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CVE Record

CVE-2020-7669: Arbitrary File Write via Archive Extraction (Zip Slip)

This affects all versions of package github.com/u-root/u-root/pkg/tarutil. It is vulnerable to both leading and non-leading relative path traversal attacks in tar file extraction.

HighCVSS 7.5Not KEV-listedUpdated
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Glexia's TakeAutomated analysishigh

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2020-7669 is a Zip Slip flaw in u-root's Go tar extraction utility. A crafted tar archive could cause files to be written outside the intended extraction directory, risking unauthorized modification of application or system files.

Executive priority

Treat this as high priority where u-root tar extraction handles untrusted archives or sensitive deployment materials. The main business risk is file tampering, not data theft, based on the supplied CVSS impact.

Technical view

The affected package is github.com/u-root/u-root/pkg/tarutil. Sources state it is vulnerable to leading and non-leading relative path traversal during tar extraction. The recorded CVSS is 7.5, with network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, no user interaction, and high integrity impact.

Likely exposure

Exposure is likely limited to software that imports this Go package and extracts tar archives, especially archives received from users, build pipelines, networks, or other untrusted sources. The bundle does not identify affected downstream products.

Exploitation context

The provided sources do not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Practical abuse would depend on an application using the vulnerable extractor on attacker-controlled archives and having write permissions to sensitive paths.

Researcher notes

Evidence supports arbitrary file write through tar path traversal in pkg/tarutil. The bundle does not provide CWE mapping, downstream product impact, exploit-in-the-wild evidence, or a specific fixed version, so remediation should be tied to upstream vendor guidance.

Mitigation direction

  • Inventory Go projects for github.com/u-root/u-root/pkg/tarutil usage.
  • Check u-root and Snyk guidance for the fixed release or commit.
  • Avoid extracting untrusted tar archives with affected code until remediated.
  • Restrict extraction destinations and runtime file permissions where possible.
  • Prioritize systems where extracted archives influence builds, boot images, or deployment artifacts.

Validation and detection

  • Review dependency manifests and lockfiles for u-root tarutil usage.
  • Identify code paths that extract tar archives from untrusted or semi-trusted sources.
  • Confirm the deployed version includes the upstream fix referenced by u-root guidance.
  • Add regression tests ensuring extraction cannot write outside the target directory.
  • Verify archive extraction runs with least necessary filesystem privileges.
Prepared
Confidence
medium
Sources
4

Public sources used

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context

These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.

ATT&CK lookup starting points

Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.

description · low confidence lookup

File access behavior lookup

The CVE wording references file access or upload behavior, so file telemetry and web shell review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.

Open ATT&CK lookup
cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2020-7669 mapping review

Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
High
CVSS
7.5 (3.0)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
3Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
7.5CVSS 3.0HighCVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N3.93.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.0 score

7.5High
CVSS 3.0 vector shape for CVE-2020-7669Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
n/agithub.com/u-root/u-root/pkg/tarutil0Listed
Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.