CVE-2026-53655
Description
A flaw was found in node-tar. This vulnerability arises because node-tar incorrectly applies PAX extended header size records to subsequent intermediary metadata headers, leading to a desynchronization of the tar stream cursor compared to other standard tar implementations. A remote attacker could exploit this by crafting a malicious archive, causing different interpretations of archive contents between node-tar and other tools. This could allow an attacker to hide malicious files or sensitive information from security scanners that rely on different tar parsing libraries, potentially leading to information disclosure or bypassing security controls.
Statement
This Moderate impact flaw in node-tar affects Red Hat products by allowing an attacker to craft malicious archives that are interpreted differently by node-tar compared to other standard tar implementations. This parsing inconsistency can enable file smuggling, where malicious content might be hidden from security scanning tools, potentially leading to information disclosure or bypassing security controls within affected systems.
Mitigation
Mitigation for this issue is either not available or the currently available options do not meet the Red Hat Product Security criteria comprising ease of use and deployment, applicability to widespread installation base or stability.
Common Vulnerability Scoring System (CVSS) Score Details
Info alert:Important note
CVSS scores for open source components depend on vendor-specific factors (e.g. version or build chain). Therefore, Red Hat's score and impact rating can be different from NVD and other vendors. Red Hat remains the authoritative CVE Naming Authority (CNA) source for its products and services (see Red Hat classifications).
The following CVSS metrics and score provided are preliminary and subject to review.
CVSS v3 Score Breakdown
| Red Hat | NVD | cve.org | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Base Score | 6.1 | 5.5 | N/A |
| Attack Vector | Local | Local | N/A |
| Attack Complexity | Low | Low | N/A |
| Privileges Required | None | None | N/A |
| User Interaction | Required | Required | N/A |
| Scope | Unchanged | Unchanged | N/A |
| Confidentiality | Low | None | N/A |
| Integrity Impact | High | High | N/A |
| Availability Impact | None | None | N/A |
Vector
Red Hat: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N
NVD: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N
Understanding the Weakness (CWE)
Integrity
Technical Impact: Unexpected State
Frequently Asked Questions
Not sure what something means? Check out our Security Glossary.
Want to get errata notifications? Sign up here.
