Patchfirst
CVE-2023-38831 KEVRansomwarePublic exploit High · 7.8 EPSS 99.8%

RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution Vulnerability

RARLAB · WinRAR

Summary

The flaw lies in RARLAB WinRAR before version 6.23, where WinRAR processes the contents of a folder inside a ZIP archive when a user attempts to open a benign-looking file that shares the folder's name. An attacker who can get a user to open such a crafted ZIP archive in WinRAR can execute arbitrary code, provided the user takes an action to view the benign file and no authentication is required.

Official description · NVD

RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive. The issue occurs because a ZIP archive may include a benign file (such as an ordinary .JPG file) and also a folder that has the same name as the benign file, and the contents of the folder (which may include executable content) are processed during an attempt to access only the benign file. This was exploited in the wild in April through October 2023.

Breakdown
82.3 / 100
Exploited
Yes, in CISA KEV
Reports
1
Tactics
8/15

How an attack unfolds

Based on mappings. Select a step to see the evidence.
  1. How attackers get in

  2. What can follow

First seen exploited 44 days before it was disclosed. Public exploit code (Metasploit) was available the same day.

  1. First seen exploitedVulnCheck KEV evidence44 days before
  2. DisclosedPublic exploit codeMetasploitday 0
  3. Added to CISA KEVknown ransomware use; EU database agrees+1 day

CISA KEV listing is when exploitation was confirmed, not necessarily the first attack.

techniques

7 , grouped by in kill-chain order, 1 cited passage 7

ExecutionTA0002

Scheduled Task/Job T1053 Medium also Persistence, Privilege Escalation
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity

CVE-2023-38831 is a vulnerability within the crafred archive process of WinRAR that occurs when a user attempts to open a seemingly legitimate document within a compromised archive, the vulnerability allows the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system via a specially prepared archive. There have been public reports on the FROZENLAKE spear-phishing campaign, FROZENBARENTS, and ISLANDDREAMS leveraging this vulnerability.

User Execution T1204 Medium
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · how it is exploited

PersistenceTA0003

Modify Registry T1112 Medium also Defense Impairment
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity

CollectionTA0009

Data from Local System T1005 Medium
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity

Command and ControlTA0011

Ingress Tool Transfer T1105 Medium
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity

ExfiltrationTA0010

Exfiltration Over C2 Channel T1041 Medium
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity

ImpactTA0040

Data Encrypted for Impact T1486 Medium
MITRE CTID mapping of the KEV entry · follow-on activity
Lower-confidence links (2)

These come from early or generic mappings, text matching, or contradict this CVE’s details (for example a public-facing technique on a bug that needs a user to open a file). Shown for completeness.

  • Unix ShellT1059.004 technique is for ESXi, Linux, Network Devices, macOS; product runs on Windows
  • Develop CapabilitiesT1587 machine-matched from report text

Detection

0 rules for this CVE · 243 general rules for its techniques

Rules for this CVE

0 that reference CVE-2023-38831 directly.

CVE-specific rules are not available in this build. Search SigmaHQ ↗

General rules for this CVE’s techniques

These detect the technique in general, not this specific vulnerability.

User ExecutionT120410 general rules
Scheduled Task/JobT105312 general rules
Modify RegistryT111298 general rules
Data from Local SystemT100514 general rules
Ingress Tool TransferT110587 general rules
Exfiltration Over C2 ChannelT10415 general rules
Data Encrypted for ImpactT148617 general rules

Sigma rules © SigmaHQ, Detection Rule License 1.1; linked, not reproduced.

What security researchers reported

Named in 1 threat report
1 reportFBI

Reports are matched by finding the exact id CVE-2023-38831 in their text; nobody has reviewed the match. One passage is shown per report, at most 320 characters, linked to the original.

FBIUndated

Microsoft Word - JCSA-20241030-001

…providers such as Private Internet Access, Windscribe, Express VPN, NordVPN, and Urban VPN Acquire Infrastructure T1583 ASA has obtained operational servers from its cover-hosting resellers (server-speed[.]com and more recently vps-agent[.]net) Develop Capabilities T1587 Weaponization of CVE 2023-38831…

Original (opens in a new tab) ↗

Also mentioned in 50 community threat pulses (AlienVault OTX)

Weaker evidence

Pulses are indicator collections that anyone can publish. A mention is not confirmation of exploitation.

References

6 links, grouped by NVD tag (5 duplicates merged)
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