CVE-2020-36193

KEVPEAR Archive_Tar Improper Link Resolution Vulnerability

Description

PEAR Archive_Tar Tar.php allows write operations with directory traversal due to inadequate checking of symbolic links. PEAR stands for PHP Extension and Application Repository and it is an open-source framework and distribution system for reusable PHP components with known usage in third-party products such as Drupal Core and Red Hat Linux.

Tar.php in Archive_Tar through 1.4.11 allows write operations with Directory Traversal due to inadequate checking of symbolic links, a related issue to CVE-2020-28948.

CVSS 3.1 vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

PublishedJan 18, 2021

Last modifiedJun 17, 2026

Added to KEVAug 25, 2022

Remediation dueSep 15, 2022

References

github.com/pear/Archive_Tar/commit/cde460582ff389404b5b3ccb59374e9b389de916Patch
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/01/msg00018.htmlMailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/04/msg00007.htmlMailing ListThird Party Advisory
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/42GPGVVFTLJYAKRI75IVB5R45NYQGEUR/Broken Link
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FOZNK4FIIV7FSFCJNNFWMJZTTV7NFJV2/Broken Link
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/VJQQYDAOWHD6RDITDRPHFW7WY6BS3V5N/Broken Link
lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/YKD5WEFA4WT6AVTMRAYBNXZNLWZHM7FH/Broken Link
security.gentoo.org/glsa/202101-23Third Party Advisory
debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4894Third Party Advisory
drupal.org/sa-core-2021-001Third Party Advisory
cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2020-36193US Government Resource

0 recent articles mention this CVE

Risk assessment · High

Actively exploited. Patch immediately.

Exploitation: Confirmed in the wild (CISA KEV)
Federal remediation deadline: Overdue by 1503 days
CVSS: 7.5 HIGH
EPSS (30-day exploit probability): 70.6% · top 1% of all CVEs
Weakness: CWE-22
Attack vector: Network, remotely reachable
Preconditions: No privileges and no user interaction

Recommended actions

1.Apply updates per vendor instructions.
2.Treat as emergency change: patch or isolate internet-facing instances first.
3.Review exposure: confirm which instances are reachable from the internet and restrict access until patched.
4.Hunt for compromise: review logs for the disclosure window, not just from the patch date.

Assessment is derived automatically from the live signals above; verify against your own asset inventory.