# CVE-2023-38831: RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution Vulnerability

CVE-2023-38831 is fixed in WinRAR on 1 platform by WinRAR 6.23.0 (version 6.23.0), released August 2, 2023. It is being exploited: CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on August 24, 2023, with known ransomware use. Patch Radar priority: Patch now.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-38831
- Priority: Patch now
- CVSS: 7.8
- EPSS: 0.9982
- CISA KEV: listed Aug 24, 2023, federal due date Sep 14, 2023, known ransomware use
- Exploited (vendor report): yes
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Aug 23, 2023
- Weakness: CWE-351: Insufficient Type Distinction
- Vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38831

## Description

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.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows apps | WinRAR | 6.23.0 | [WinRAR 6.23.0](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/windows-app/rarlab.winrar-6.23.0.md) | Aug 2, 2023 |

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Data as of 2026-11-08T19:12:23Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

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