# CVE-2026-56876: extract-zip unvalidated symlink path traversal

> Attackers can exploit unvalidated symlink targets in extract-zip to read or write arbitrary files outside the intended extraction directory.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 26 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 30 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2026-56876, GHSA-jmr9-qjv8-65gv, MINI-2m3p-wcr6-c54v, MINI-2v7g-v49f-f9gw, MINI-4xvw-qjq7-wvf8, MINI-7hw7-93rw-v4w3, MINI-7r6j-x85p-wp82, MINI-8cq3-hcmp-c33p, MINI-fc63-2hcr-rcc5, MINI-fcj9-64fq-4vcr, MINI-ggfh-g5j3-jfpc, MINI-j22v-523w-p3g7, MINI-jch3-g2rm-fc98, MINI-m85h-rx2w-3hj4, MINI-p6h7-4xx5-8x86, MINI-q6ww-hh5g-76mx, MINI-r392-3vwq-84qc, ROOT-APP-NPM-CVE-2026-56876, UBUNTU-CVE-2026-56876

## What is CVE-2026-56876?

CVE-2026-56876 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in max-mapper extract-zip, published on 26 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

extract-zip does not validate symlink targets when extracting zip archives. When processing a malicious zip file containing a symlink with a relative path like '../../../../etc/passwd', extract-zip will extract the symlink without validation, allowing it to point outside the extraction directory. Depending on how extract-zip is used, an attacker could read or write to arbitrary files.

Weakness: CWE-61 (UNIX Symbolic Link (Symlink) Following), CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-56876?

2 open source packages ship an affected version, including extract-zip. It affects 1 product.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `extract-zip` | npm | All versions to 2.0.1 | None |
| `extract-zip` | npm | All versions to 2.0.1 | None |

Products: Max-Mapper Extract-Zip.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-56876?

Upgrade to a fixed version.

## Is CVE-2026-56876 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-56876 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Offical PoC for this cve (github_poc): https://github.com/ziad626/CVE-2026-56876-POC

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-56876 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-56876 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in max-mapper extract-zip, published on 26 Jun 2026. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2026-56876 exists.

Affected packages and fixed versions:
- extract-zip (npm): affected all versions up to 2.0.1; no fix listed
- extract-zip (npm): affected all versions up to 2.0.1; no fix listed

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-2026-56876/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-56876/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-56876
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-56876
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-56876

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-56876/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.