CVE-2023-7216
Cpio: extraction allows symlinks which enables remote command execution
A path traversal vulnerability was found in the CPIO utility. This issue could allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to trick a user into opening a specially crafted archive. During the extraction process, the archiver could follow symlinks outside of the intended directory, which allows files to be written in arbitrary directories through symlinks.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- Low
- Integrity
- Low
- Availability
- Low
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Cpio: extraction allows symlinks which enables remote command execution
A path traversal vulnerability was found in the CPIO utility. This issue could allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to trick a user into opening a specially crafted archive. During the extraction process, the archiver could follow symlinks outside of the intended directory, which allows files to be written in arbitrary directories through symlinks.
- Record
CVE-2023-7216- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2023-59397
A path traversal vulnerability was found in the CPIO utility. This issue could allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to trick a user into opening a specially crafted archive. During the extraction process, the archiver could follow symlinks outside of the intended directory, which allows files to be written in arbitrary directories through symlinks.
- Record
EUVD-2023-59397- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-v9vx-4mxw-76j2
A path traversal vulnerability was found in the CPIO utility. This issue could allow a remote...
A path traversal vulnerability was found in the CPIO utility. This issue could allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to trick a user into opening a specially crafted archive. During the extraction process, the archiver could follow symlinks outside of the intended directory, which could be utilized to run arbitrary commands on the target system.
- Record
GHSA-v9vx-4mxw-76j2- CVSS 3.1
- 8.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-22, CWE-59
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
A path traversal vulnerability was found in the CPIO utility. This issue could allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to trick a user into opening a specially crafted archive. During the extraction process, the archiver could follow symlinks outside of the intended directory, which allows files to be written in arbitrary directories through symlinks.
- Record
CVE-2023-7216- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Weakness
- CWE-59, CWE-22
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2023-7216
A path traversal vulnerability was found in the CPIO utility. This issue could allow a remote unauthenticated attacker to trick a user into opening a specially crafted archive. During the extraction process, the archiver could follow symlinks outside of the intended directory, which allows files to be written in arbitrary directories through symlinks.
- Record
UBUNTU-CVE-2023-7216- CVSS 3.1
- 5.3 Medium
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L - Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
cpioUbuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.11+dfsg-1ubuntu12.11+dfsg-1ubuntu1.12.11+dfsg-1ubuntu1.22.11+dfsg-1ubuntu1.2+esm12.11+dfsg-1ubuntu1.2+esm22.11+dfsg-1ubuntu1.2+esm3 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.11+dfsg-4.1ubuntu12.11+dfsg-5ubuntu12.11+dfsg-5ubuntu1.12.11+dfsg-5ubuntu1.1+esm12.11+dfsg-5ubuntu1.1+esm2 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:Pro:18.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.11+dfsg-62.12+dfsg-62.12+dfsg-6ubuntu0.18.04.12.12+dfsg-6ubuntu0.18.04.42.12+dfsg-6ubuntu0.18.04.4+esm1 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:Pro:20.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.12+dfsg-92.12+dfsg-9ubuntu12.13+dfsg-12.13+dfsg-22.13+dfsg-2ubuntu0.32.13+dfsg-2ubuntu0.42.13+dfsg-2ubuntu0.4+esm1 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:22.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.13+dfsg-4ubuntu42.13+dfsg-72.13+dfsg-7ubuntu0.12.13+dfsg-7ubuntu0.2 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:24.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.13+dfsg-7.12.14+dfsg-12.15+dfsg-12.15+dfsg-1ubuntu12.15+dfsg-1ubuntu22.15+dfsg-1ubuntu2.1 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:25.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.15+dfsg-22.15+dfsg-2ubuntu1 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:26.10 |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.15+dfsg-2.12.15+dfsg-2.1ubuntu1 |
None known |
cpioUbuntu:26.04:LTS |
All versions, plus listed versions 2.15+dfsg-2ubuntu12.15+dfsg-2.12.15+dfsg-2.1ubuntu0.1 |
None known |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2023-7216 is a medium vulnerability (CVSS 5.3) in Gnu Cpio, published February 5, 2024. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.90%, the 59th percentile. No source names a fixed version.