node-tar v<7.5.11: drive-relative symlink overwrite
CVE-2026-31802 Published on March 9, 2026

node-tar Symlink Path Traversal via Drive-Relative Linkpath
node-tar is a full-featured Tar for Node.js. Prior to version 7.5.11, tar (npm) can be tricked into creating a symlink that points outside the extraction directory by using a drive-relative symlink target such as C:../../../target.txt, which enables file overwrite outside cwd during normal tar.x() extraction. This vulnerability is fixed in 7.5.11.

Github Repository NVD

Weakness Type

What is a Directory traversal Vulnerability?

The software uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the software does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

CVE-2026-31802 has been classified to as a Directory traversal vulnerability or weakness.


Affected Versions

isaacs node-tar Version < 7.5.11 is affected by CVE-2026-31802

Vulnerable Packages

The following package name and versions may be associated with CVE-2026-31802

Package Manager Vulnerable Package Versions Fixed In
npm tar <= 7.5.10 7.5.11

Exploit Probability

EPSS
0.01%
Percentile
0.66%

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System) scores estimate the probability that a vulnerability will be exploited in the wild within the next 30 days. The percentile shows you how this score compares to all other vulnerabilities.