REDHAT-BUG-2509843: Medium severity GNU tar vulnerability

Published Jul 31, 2026
·
Updated

A flaw was found in GNU tar. The --one-top-level option is intended to confine extraction under a designated directory, but hardlink targets from the archive are not confined the same way and are resolved relative to the extraction working directory (or the directory given with -C). A crafted archive can create hardlinks inside the --one-top-level directory that point to files outside it. If a suitable symbolic link already exists under the extraction working directory, hardlinking to that symlink can bypass tar's usual symlink-based path protections and allow writing outside the intended top-level directory during a single extraction. Users who rely on --one-top-level as a security boundary when extracting untrusted archives may be affected.

Affected Software

1 affected component
GNU tar

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Compensating control

    Do not rely on GNU tar's --one-top-level as a security boundary for extracting untrusted archives, since hardlink targets from the archive can bypass tar's usual symlink-based path protections and allow writing outside the intended top-level directory.

Event History

Jul 31, 2026
Data Sourced
via Red Hat·05:05 PM
DescriptionSeverityAffected Software
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 REDHAT-BUG-2509843?

The severity of REDHAT-BUG-2509843 is classified as medium with a risk score of 4.

2

What is the description of REDHAT-BUG-2509843?

REDHAT-BUG-2509843 describes a flaw in GNU tar where the --one-top-level option does not appropriately confine hardlink targets during extraction.

3

How do I fix REDHAT-BUG-2509843?

To fix REDHAT-BUG-2509843, ensure that you do not use the --one-top-level option when dealing with archives containing hardlinks.

4

What software is affected by REDHAT-BUG-2509843?

REDHAT-BUG-2509843 affects GNU tar.

5

When was REDHAT-BUG-2509843 published?

REDHAT-BUG-2509843 was published on July 31, 2026.

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