// For flags

CVE-2015-8916

libarchive: NULL pointer access in RAR parser through bsdtar

Severity Score

6.5
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

bsdtar in libarchive before 3.2.0 returns a success code without filling the entry when the header is a "split file in multivolume RAR," which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (NULL pointer dereference and crash) via a crafted rar file.

bsdtar en libarchive en versiones anteriores a 3.2.0 devuelve un código válido sin rellenar la entrada cuando la cabecera es un "archivo dividido en multivolumen RAR," lo que permite a atacantes remotos provocar una denegación de servicio (referencia a puntero NULL y caída) a través de un archivo rar manipulado.

A vulnerability was found in libarchive. A specially crafted RAR file could cause the application dereference a NULL pointer, leading to a crash.

The libarchive programming library can create and read several different streaming archive formats, including GNU tar, cpio, and ISO 9660 CD-ROM images. Libarchive is used notably in the bsdtar utility, scripting language bindings such as python-libarchive, and several popular desktop file managers. Security Fix: A flaw was found in the way libarchive handled hardlink archive entries of non-zero size. Combined with flaws in libarchive's file system sandboxing, this issue could cause an application using libarchive to overwrite arbitrary files with arbitrary data from the archive.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
High
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Low
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Medium
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Partial
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Medium
Authentication
Single
Confidentiality
None
Integrity
None
Availability
Partial
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2016-06-17 CVE Reserved
  • 2016-07-14 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-06 CVE Updated
  • 2025-03-30 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
 Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
 12.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "12.04"
lts
Affected
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
 Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
 14.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "14.04"
lts
Affected
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
 Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
 15.10
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "15.10"
-
Affected
Canonical
Search vendor "Canonical"
 Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
 16.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "16.04"
lts
Affected
Debian
Search vendor "Debian"
 Debian Linux
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux"
 7.0
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux" and version "7.0"
-
Affected
Debian
Search vendor "Debian"
 Debian Linux
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux"
 8.0
Search vendor "Debian" for product "Debian Linux" and version "8.0"
-
Affected
Libarchive
Search vendor "Libarchive"
 Libarchive
Search vendor "Libarchive" for product "Libarchive"
 <= 3.1.901a
Search vendor "Libarchive" for product "Libarchive" and version " <= 3.1.901a"
-
Affected