CVE-2002-1216: Medium severity GNU tar vulnerability

Published Sep 28, 2002
·
Updated

Flaw bug created to hold information about an old flaw we knew something about. For more details see the MITRE CVE description.

Other sources

GNU tar 1.13.19 and other versions before 1.13.25 allows remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack, as the result of a modification that effectively disabled the security check.

Red Hat

Affected Software

2 affected components
GNU tar=1.13.19
GNU tar<=1.13.25

Event History

Sep 28, 2002
CVE Published
via Red Hat·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·12:00 AM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityAffected Software
Oct 21, 2002
CVE Published
via MITRE·08:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·08:00 AM
Description

Parent advisories

This vulnerability appears in the following advisories.

Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2002-1216?

CVE-2002-1216 has a high severity rating due to the potential for arbitrary file overwriting by remote attackers.

2

How do I fix CVE-2002-1216?

To fix CVE-2002-1216, upgrade GNU tar to version 1.13.25 or later to restore the necessary security checks.

3

Which versions of GNU tar are affected by CVE-2002-1216?

GNU tar versions 1.13.19 and below are affected by CVE-2002-1216.

4

What type of attack does CVE-2002-1216 involve?

CVE-2002-1216 involves a symlink attack allowing remote attackers to overwrite arbitrary files.

5

Are there any workarounds for CVE-2002-1216?

The main workaround for CVE-2002-1216 is to disable the use of symlinks in operations that use GNU tar until an upgrade can be applied.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203