# CVE-2018-12015: Path traversal in n/a

> Attackers can overwrite arbitrary files by exploiting a symlink bypass in the Perl Archive::Tar module during archive extraction.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 7 Jun 2018
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** ALPINE-CVE-2018-12015, CLEANSTART-2026-CC44025, CLSA-2026-1777878729, CLSA-2026-1777879919, DEBIAN-CVE-2018-12015, DSA-4226-1, GHSA-44r9-882w-xw5m, RHSA-2019:2097, SUSE-SU-2018:1977-1, SUSE-SU-2018:1992-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2018-12015, USN-3684-1

## What is CVE-2018-12015?

CVE-2018-12015 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 7 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

In Perl through 5.26.2, the Archive::Tar module allows remote attackers to bypass a directory-traversal protection mechanism, and overwrite arbitrary files, via an archive file containing a symlink and a regular file with the same name.

Weakness: CWE-59 (Improper Link Resolution Before File Access)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-12015?

It affects 9 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `perl-Archive-Tar` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::client | All versions | 0:1.92-3.el7 |
| `perl-Archive-Tar` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::computenode | All versions | 0:1.92-3.el7 |
| `perl-Archive-Tar` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::server | All versions | 0:1.92-3.el7 |
| `perl-Archive-Tar` | Red Hat:enterprise_linux:7::workstation | All versions | 0:1.92-3.el7 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Basesystem 15 | All versions | 5.26.1-7.3.1 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Module for Development Tools 15 | All versions | 5.26.1-7.3.1 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Point of Sale 11 SP3 | All versions | 5.10.0-64.81.13.1 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3-LTSS | All versions | 5.10.0-64.81.13.1 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP3-TERADATA | All versions | 5.10.0-64.81.13.1 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server 11 SP4 | All versions | 5.10.0-64.81.13.1 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Server for SAP Applications 11 SP4 | All versions | 5.10.0-64.81.13.1 |
| `perl` | SUSE:Linux Enterprise Software Development Kit 11 SP4 | All versions | 5.10.0-64.81.13.1 |

Products: Apple Mac Os X, Archive\ \, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Debian Debian Linux, Netapp Data Ontap Edge, Netapp Oncommand Workflow Automation, Netapp Snap Creator Framework, Netapp Snapdrive, Perl Perl.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-12015?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2018-12015 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12015 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-12015 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-12015 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 7 Jun 2018. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-12015 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12015/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12015/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-12015
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12015
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-12015

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-12015/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.