# CVE-2026-23950: node-tar: node-tar,a Tar for Node.js, has a race condition vulnerability in versions up to and including 7.5.3

CVE-2026-23950 is fixed in 39 products on 1 platform, first by DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23950, released January 20, 2026. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2026-23950
- Priority: High
- CVSS: 8.8 (medium)
- EPSS: 0.0026
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Jan 20, 2026

## Description

node-tar,a Tar for Node.js, has a race condition vulnerability in versions up to and including 7.5.3. This is due to an incomplete handling of Unicode path collisions in the `path-reservations` system. On case-insensitive or normalization-insensitive filesystems (such as macOS APFS, In which it has been tested), the library fails to lock colliding paths (e.g., `ß` and `ss`), allowing them to be processed in parallel. This bypasses the library's internal concurrency safeguards and permits Symlink Poisoning attacks via race conditions. The library uses a `PathReservations` system to ensure that metadata checks and file operations for the same path are serialized. This prevents race conditions where one entry might clobber another concurrently. This is a Race Condition which enables Arbitrary File Overwrite. This vulnerability affects users and systems using node-tar on macOS (APFS/HFS+). Because of using `NFD` Unicode normalization (in which `ß` and `ss` are different), conflicting paths do not have their order properly preserved under filesystems that ignore Unicode normalization (e.g., APFS (in which `ß` causes an inode collision with `ss`)). This enables an attacker to circumvent internal parallelization locks (`PathReservations`) using conflicting filenames within a malicious tar archive. The patch in version 7.5.4 updates `path-reservations.js` to use a normalization form that matches the target filesystem's behavior (e.g., `NFKD`), followed by first `toLocaleLowerCase('en')` and then `toLocaleUpperCase('en')`. As a workaround, users who cannot upgrade promptly, and who are programmatically using `node-tar` to extract arbitrary tarball data should filter out all `SymbolicLink` entries (as npm does) to defend against arbitrary file writes via this file system entry name collision issue.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Linux | linux-sgx RHEL 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [RHSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18480.md) | Jan 28, 2026 |
| Linux | linux-sgx rocky 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [RLSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rlsa-2026-18480.md) | May 29, 2026 |
| Linux | linux-sgx rocky 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RLSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rlsa-2026-18868.md) | May 28, 2026 |
| Linux | node-tar Debian 13.5 (trixie) | 6.2.1+~cs7.0.8-1+deb13u1 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23950](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-23950.md) | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Linux | node-tar Debian 14 | 6.2.1+ds1+~cs6.1.13-7 | [DEBIAN-CVE-2026-23950](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/debian-cve-2026-23950.md) | Jan 20, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20 amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-debugsource amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-devel amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-docs amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-full-i18n amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-libs amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-libs-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:20.20.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs20-npm amzn 2023 | 1:10.8.2-1.20.20.0.1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22 amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-debugsource amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-devel amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-docs amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-full-i18n amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-libs amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-libs-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:22.22.0-1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs22-npm amzn 2023 | 1:10.9.4-1.22.22.0.1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24 amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-debugsource amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-devel amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-docs amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-full-i18n amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-libs amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-libs-debuginfo amzn 2023 | 1:24.14.0-1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | nodejs24-npm amzn 2023 | 1:11.9.0-1.24.14.0.1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-common RHEL 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RHSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18868.md) | May 27, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-common almalinux 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [ALSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18480.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-common almalinux 9 | 2.26-7.el9 | [ALSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18868.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-common ol 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [ELSA-2026-18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18480.md) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-common ol 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [ELSA-2026-18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18868.md) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-libs RHEL 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RHSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18868.md) | May 27, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-libs almalinux 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [ALSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18480.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-libs almalinux 9 | 2.26-7.el9 | [ALSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18868.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-libs ol 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [ELSA-2026-18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18480.md) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-libs ol 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [ELSA-2026-18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18868.md) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-mpa RHEL 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RHSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18868.md) | May 27, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-mpa almalinux 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [ALSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18480.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-mpa almalinux 9 | 2.26-7.el9 | [ALSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18868.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-mpa ol 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [ELSA-2026-18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18480.md) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-mpa ol 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [ELSA-2026-18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18868.md) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs RHEL 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RHSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18868.md) | May 27, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs almalinux 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [ALSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18480.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs almalinux 9 | 2.26-7.el9 | [ALSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18868.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs ol 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [ELSA-2026-18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18480.md) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs ol 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [ELSA-2026-18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18868.md) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs-admin RHEL 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RHSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18868.md) | May 27, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs-admin almalinux 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [ALSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18480.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs-admin almalinux 9 | 2.26-7.el9 | [ALSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18868.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs-admin ol 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [ELSA-2026-18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18480.md) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pccs-admin ol 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [ELSA-2026-18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18868.md) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pckid-tool RHEL 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RHSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18868.md) | May 27, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pckid-tool almalinux 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [ALSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18480.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pckid-tool almalinux 9 | 2.26-7.el9 | [ALSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18868.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pckid-tool ol 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [ELSA-2026-18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18480.md) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Linux | sgx-pckid-tool ol 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [ELSA-2026-18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18868.md) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Linux | tdx-qgs RHEL 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [RHSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/rhsa-2026-18868.md) | May 27, 2026 |
| Linux | tdx-qgs almalinux 10 | 2.26-7.el10 | [ALSA-2026:18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18480.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | tdx-qgs almalinux 9 | 2.26-7.el9 | [ALSA-2026:18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alsa-2026-18868.md) | May 19, 2026 |
| Linux | tdx-qgs ol 10 | 0:2.26-7.el10 | [ELSA-2026-18480](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18480.md) | Jul 8, 2026 |
| Linux | tdx-qgs ol 9 | 0:2.26-7.el9 | [ELSA-2026-18868](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/elsa-2026-18868.md) | Jun 12, 2026 |
| Linux | v8-11.3-devel amzn 2023 | 3:11.3.244.8-1.20.20.0.1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1464](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1464.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | v8-12.4-devel amzn 2023 | 3:12.4.254.21-1.22.22.0.1.amzn2023.0.2 | [ALAS2023-2026-1465](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1465.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |
| Linux | v8-13.6-devel amzn 2023 | 3:13.6.233.17-1.24.14.0.1.amzn2023.0.1 | [ALAS2023-2026-1466](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/linux/alas2023-2026-1466.md) | Mar 2, 2026 |

---

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