Description
node-tar is a full-featured Tar for Node.js. When using default options in versions 7.5.7 and below, an attacker-controlled archive can create a hardlink inside the extraction directory that points to a file outside the extraction root, enabling arbitrary file read and write as the extracting user. Severity is high because the primitive bypasses path protections and turns archive extraction into a direct filesystem access primitive. This issue has been fixed in version 7.5.8.
Published: 2026-02-20
Score: 7.1 High
EPSS: < 1% Very Low
KEV: No
Impact: Arbitrary file read/write
Action: Upgrade
AI Analysis

Analysis and contextual insights are available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Remediation

No vendor fix or workaround currently provided.

Additional remediation guidance may be available on OpenCVE Cloud.

Tracking

Sign in to view the affected projects.

Advisories
Source ID Title
Debian DLA Debian DLA DLA-4552-1 node-tar security update
Github GHSA Github GHSA GHSA-83g3-92jg-28cx Arbitrary File Read/Write via Hardlink Target Escape Through Symlink Chain in node-tar Extraction
History

Sat, 21 Feb 2026 00:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
References
Metrics threat_severity

None

threat_severity

Moderate


Fri, 20 Feb 2026 19:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:isaacs:tar:*:*:*:*:*:node.js:*:*

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 17:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Metrics ssvc

{'options': {'Automatable': 'no', 'Exploitation': 'none', 'Technical Impact': 'total'}, 'version': '2.0.3'}


Fri, 20 Feb 2026 10:15:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Isaacs
Isaacs tar
Vendors & Products Isaacs
Isaacs tar

Fri, 20 Feb 2026 01:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description node-tar is a full-featured Tar for Node.js. When using default options in versions 7.5.7 and below, an attacker-controlled archive can create a hardlink inside the extraction directory that points to a file outside the extraction root, enabling arbitrary file read and write as the extracting user. Severity is high because the primitive bypasses path protections and turns archive extraction into a direct filesystem access primitive. This issue has been fixed in version 7.5.8.
Title node-tar has Arbitrary File Read/Write via Hardlink Target Escape Through Symlink Chain in Extraction
Weaknesses CWE-22
References
Metrics cvssV3_1

{'score': 7.1, 'vector': 'CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N'}


cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: GitHub_M

Published:

Updated: 2026-02-20T15:35:27.586Z

Reserved: 2026-02-16T22:20:28.611Z

Link: CVE-2026-26960

cve-icon Vulnrichment

Updated: 2026-02-20T15:29:19.255Z

cve-icon NVD

Status : Analyzed

Published: 2026-02-20T02:16:53.883

Modified: 2026-02-20T19:24:16.537

Link: CVE-2026-26960

cve-icon Redhat

Severity : Moderate

Publid Date: 2026-02-20T01:07:52Z

Links: CVE-2026-26960 - Bugzilla

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

Updated: 2026-04-18T11:45:44Z

Weaknesses