CVE-2026-41958
Description
A flaw was found in VisiData. This path traversal vulnerability allows a remote attacker to perform arbitrary file writes on the host system. By convincing a user to process a specially crafted URL pointing to a malicious ZIP archive, an attacker can extract files outside the intended destination directory and potentially overwrite critical files.
Statement
VisiData’s unzip_http RemoteZipFile extraction can process attacker-controlled ZIP entry paths fetched from a URL, allowing a user who opens a malicious remote archive to write or overwrite files outside the intended extraction directory. The write is limited to the VisiData process’s UID, SELinux domain, and any container boundary; the flaw does not inherently bypass those controls.
Mitigation
Do not open untrusted URLs that reference ZIP archives with VisiData until a fix is available. Run VisiData under a dedicated unprivileged account with restricted writable paths, preferably in a confined environment.
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity,Confidentiality,Availability
Technical Impact: Execute Unauthorized Code or Commands
The attacker may be able to create or overwrite critical files that are used to execute code, such as programs or libraries.
Integrity
Technical Impact: Modify Files or Directories
The attacker may be able to overwrite or create critical files, such as programs, libraries, or important data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, appending a new account at the end of a password file may allow an attacker to bypass authentication.
Confidentiality
Technical Impact: Read Files or Directories
The attacker may be able read the contents of unexpected files and expose sensitive data. If the targeted file is used for a security mechanism, then the attacker may be able to bypass that mechanism. For example, by reading a password file, the attacker could conduct brute force password guessing attacks in order to break into an account on the system.
Availability
Technical Impact: DoS: Crash, Exit, or Restart
The attacker may be able to overwrite, delete, or corrupt unexpected critical files such as programs, libraries, or important data. This may prevent the product from working at all and in the case of protection mechanisms such as authentication, it has the potential to lock out product users.
Frequently Asked Questions
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