# CVE-2018-20253: Memory corruption in WinRAR

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a malicious LHA/LZH archive in WinRAR.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Feb 2019
- **Updated:** 5 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-rc2h-948p-g7mf

## What is CVE-2018-20253?

CVE-2018-20253 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. WinRAR, published on 13 Feb 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

In WinRAR versions prior to and including 5.60, There is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability during parsing of a crafted LHA / LZH archive formats. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2018-20253?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Rarlab Winrar.

## How do I fix CVE-2018-20253?

No fix has been published for CVE-2018-20253 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2018-20253 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-20253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. WinRAR

- [CVE-2025-6218](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-6218/): RARLAB WinRAR Path Traversal (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2023-38831](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-38831/): RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2018-20250](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20250/): WinRAR Absolute Path Traversal (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2008-7144](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2008-7144/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2004-1254](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2004-1254/): Integer overflow in n/a (critical 10.0)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2018-20253 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2018-20253 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. WinRAR, published on 13 Feb 2019. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2018-20253 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Check Point Software Technologies Ltd. WinRAR. 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-2018-20253/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20253/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2018-20253
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-20253
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2018-20253

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2018-20253/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.