CVE-2020-28949
Confirmed PUBLISHEDArchive_Tar through 1.4.10 has :// filename sanitization only to address phar attacks, and thus any other stream-wrapper attack (such as file:// to...
Recommended Action
Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
At a Glance
Archive_Tar through 1.4.10 has :// filename sanitization only to address phar attacks, and thus any other stream-wrapper attack (such as file:// to overwrite files) can still succeed.
- CVE Published
- Nov 19, 2020
- Exploitation Reported
- Aug 25, 2022
- CVSS
- 7.8 High
- EPSS
- —
Affected Versions
| Vendor | Product | Version | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| n/a |
n/a
|
n/a |
Affected |
CVE References
- FEDORA-2020-f351eb14e3 lists.fedoraproject.org · Vendor Advisory https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40list...
- FEDORA-2020-5271a896ff lists.fedoraproject.org · Vendor Advisory https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40list...
- FEDORA-2020-6f1079934c lists.fedoraproject.org · Vendor Advisory https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40list...
- FEDORA-2020-d50d74d6f2 lists.fedoraproject.org · Vendor Advisory https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40list...
- DSA-4817 debian.org · Vendor Advisory https://www.debian.org/security/2020/dsa-4817
Show 7 more references
- GLSA-202101-23 security.gentoo.org · Vendor Advisory https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-23
- FEDORA-2021-8093e197f4 lists.fedoraproject.org · Vendor Advisory https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40list...
- FEDORA-2021-0c013f520c lists.fedoraproject.org · Vendor Advisory https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40list...
- [debian-lts-announce] 20201127 [SECURITY] [DLA 2466-1] drupal7 security update lists.debian.org · Mailing List https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2020/11/msg00045.html
- GitHub — pear/Archive_Tar github.com · CVE Record https://github.com/pear/Archive_Tar/issues/33
- drupal.org/sa-core-2020-013 drupal.org · CVE Record https://www.drupal.org/sa-core-2020-013
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/161095/PEAR-Archive_Tar-Arbitrary-File... packetstormsecurity.com · CVE Record http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/161095/PEAR-Archive_Tar-Arbitrar...
Recommended Actions
- Prioritize remediation. Validate affected assets and apply vendor fixes on an accelerated timeline.
- Check enrichment artifacts for scanner coverage and available PoCs before rolling remediation validation.
- Use the Pro API to automate enrichment, telemetry, and workflow delivery for VM, SOC, and CTI pipelines.
Known Exploited Vulnerability Sources
Catalogues that list this CVE as a known exploited vulnerability.
Per-source evidence links for KEV attestations are available through the KEVIntel Pro API.
Learn about Pro API access| Source | Added |
|---|---|
| CISA First | 2022-08-25 00:00 UTC |
Scanner Artifacts
Nuclei and Metasploit references linked to this CVE.
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/fileformat/archive_tar_arb_file_write.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Virtual Patch
Compensating WAF rules to help reduce exposure to this CVE. Rule content and deployable vendor exports are available with KEVIntel Enterprise.
KEVIntel does not currently have a virtual patch for this CVE. When available, KEVIntel virtual patches ship as deployable ModSecurity, Cloudflare, and AWS WAF rules.
Enterprise feature. Virtual patch rule content and deployable vendor exports (ModSecurity, Cloudflare, AWS WAF) are available to KEVIntel Enterprise users.
CVSS Scores
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Exploitation Status
Exploited in the wild
Recorded 2022-08-25 00:00:00 UTC · CISA
Proof of concept available
Recorded 2025-04-28 15:02:16 UTC
Scanner Integrations
| Scanner | Reference | Detected |
|---|---|---|
| Metasploit | https://github.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/fileformat/archive_tar_arb_file_write.rb | Apr 28, 2025 |
Potential Proof of Concepts
These PoCs are unverified and could contain malware. Use at your own risk.
Timeline
Key exploitation, disclosure, scanner coverage, and KEV attestation events for this CVE.
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Metasploit module available
Exploit module available
-
15:02 UTC about 1 year ago15:02 UTC · about 1 year ago
Public PoC available
Public proof-of-concept code published
-
00:00 UTC almost 4 years ago00:00 UTC · almost 4 years ago
Added to CISA KEV
Listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog
-
18:14 UTC over 5 years ago18:14 UTC · over 5 years ago
CVE published
Vulnerability disclosed publicly
-
00:00 UTC over 5 years ago00:00 UTC · over 5 years ago
CVE ID reserved
Identifier reserved by the CNA
Automate This Intelligence with the Pro API
Confidence scoring, exploit status, sensor telemetry, PoCs, scanner integrations, mentions, and tags are available programmatically for VM, SOC, and CTI workflows.
Pro API Example
GET /api/v2/pro/kevs/CVE-2020-28949
{
"cve_id": "CVE-2020-28949",
"title": "Archive_Tar through 1.4.10 has :// filename sanitization only to address phar...",
"affected_vendor": "pear",
"affected_product": "Archive_Tar",
"affected_versions": [
{ "vendor": "...", "product": "...", "status": "affected", "display_label": "..." }
],
"confidence": "Confirmed",
"cvss_score": 7.8,
"epss_score": null,
"exploit_status": {
"exploited_in_the_wild": true,
"active_exploitation_observed": false
},
"sensor_telemetry": { "...": "Pro API fields" },
"proof_of_concepts": [ "..." ],
"scanner_integrations": [ "..." ]
}