Exploited vulnerability · CISA KEV

Is CVE-2023-38831 exploited? Yes: in CISA KEV since 24 Aug 2023

Gociux · RARLAB WinRAR · data: CISA KEV, CVE record, FIRST EPSS

Yes. CVE-2023-38831, RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution Vulnerability, is being exploited in the wild. CISA added it to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 24 Aug 2023, 1 days after it was published. It is known to be used in ransomware campaigns. It affects RARLAB WinRAR. If you run it, CISA's required action is: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

What it is

RARLAB WinRAR contains an unspecified vulnerability that allows an attacker to execute code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive.

What to do

1. Check whether you run it. Look for WinRAR in your asset inventory, including appliances and cloud images. Stack check lists every exploited RARLAB CVE at once.
2. Apply the fix. Apply mitigations per vendor instructions or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
3. If you can't patch today, take the affected service off the internet or restrict who can reach it, and check its logs for signs of compromise since 23 Aug 2023.
4. Get told next time. Email alerts when CISA adds a CVE for RARLAB.

Other exploited CVEs in WinRAR

• CVE-2025-6218: RARLAB WinRAR Path Traversal Vulnerability (9 Dec 2025)
• CVE-2025-8088: RARLAB WinRAR Path Traversal Vulnerability (12 Aug 2025)
• CVE-2018-20250: WinRAR Absolute Path Traversal Vulnerability (15 Feb 2022)

References

• www.win-rar.com/singlenewsview.html
• nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-38831

Sources: CISA KEV (exploitation, ransomware use, required action, due date), the CVE record (publication date, CVSS, CNA), NVD and FIRST EPSS (live score). More: all KEV additions in August 2023 · RARLAB scorecard · act-now radar.