CVE-2023-38831

RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution Vulnerability

High 7.8
Exploited: added to CISA KEV 24 Aug 2023
Used in ransomware campaigns

Description

RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive. The issue occurs because a ZIP archive may include a benign file (such as an ordinary .JPG file) and also a folder that has the same name as the benign file, and the contents of the folder (which may include executable content) are processed during an attempt to access only the benign file. This was exploited in the wild in April through October 2023.

Key facts

Published: 23 Aug 2023
Last changed: 5 Aug 2026
Assigned by: mitre
KEV added: 24 Aug 2023
KEV fix due: 14 Sep 2023
Used in ransomware: Yes, according to CISA
EPSS: 99.815% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 99.96% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
SSVC (CISA): Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: total

Severity scores

Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.

7.8CVSS 3.1, Highfrom CISA (ADP container)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

What to do

Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.CISA KEV required action

Historical context and remediation

This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.

No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.

Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Versions
n/a	n/a	n/a (affected)