CVE-2026-53486 decompress: Archive extraction can create files and links outside the target directory
Attackers can extract crafted archives to read or write files outside the target directory via symlink and path traversal flaws in the decompress library.
- Exploited in the wild
- Not known
- Login needed
- Not needed
- Attackable
- Over the internet
- Victim action needed
- Not needed
- Fix
- Available
What is CVE-2026-53486?
CVE-2026-53486 is a critical path traversal vulnerability in XhmikosR decompress, published on 14 Jul 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Official description
The decompress package for Node.js extracts archives. Prior to 10.2.1 and 11.1.3, archive extraction can create files and links outside the target directory. When extracting an archive to a directory, a crafted archive can read or write files outside that directory because hardlink and symlink entries are created without checking where targets point, path containment used a string prefix comparison, and file modes failed to remove setuid, setgid, or sticky bits. This issue is fixed in @xhmikosr/decompress versions 10.2.1 and 11.1.3.
Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-53486?
6 open source packages ship an affected version, including @xhmikosr/decompress and decompress.
| Package | Affected | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|
@xhmikosr/decompress npm | All versions | 10.2.1 |
@xhmikosr/decompress npm | All versions | 10.2.1 |
@xhmikosr/decompress npm | From 11.0.0 | 11.1.3 |
@xhmikosr/decompress npm | From 11.0.0 | 11.1.3 |
decompress npm | All versions to 4.2.1 | None |
decompress npm | All versions to 4.2.1 | None |
How do I fix CVE-2026-53486?
Upgrade @xhmikosr/decompress to a fixed version for your release line: 10.2.1 or 11.1.3.
Upgrade, and resolve every user-supplied path against an allowed base folder before opening it. More about Path traversal.
Is CVE-2026-53486 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-53486 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Sources
Also known as GHSA-mp2f-45pm-3cg9, MINI-3w3h-8484-5724, MINI-7qv2-q9g9-vqpc, MINI-8m6c-m56h-9vm9, MINI-cp4h-9mph-c469, MINI-f542-479x-j8q6 and 2 more.