CVE-2026-77156

ast-cli: Path traversal in tar extraction on Linux/macOS allows writes outside the install directory

MEDIUM
6.4
CVSS Score
Published: October 22, 2026 at 05:44 PM UTC
Updated: October 23, 2026 at 07:57 PM UTC
1 product affected across 1 vendorgithub.com/checkmarx/ast-cli

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Severity
MEDIUM6.4
Exploit prediction
EPSS 0.3%

Description

Incomplete validation of extracted archive entry paths in ast-cli's tar extraction logic on Linux and macOS (used when installing the Vorpal ASCA real-time engine and the SCA Resolver) would allow a malicious tar archive containing absolute or traversal path entries to write files outside the install directory. Windows builds were not affected, as the Windows extractor performs this path validation. Exploitation would require substituting the archive served at "download.checkmarx.com". An attacker able to compromise that server and replace the archive could write arbitrary, executable files to arbitrary filesystem paths via this path traversal. Extraction now validates that each entry's destination path resolves within the working directory and rejects absolute paths.

Affected

Our own answer: ranges merged, affected separated from platform-only, with confidence and review flags.

All versions
Vendor states this is fixed in 2.3.51 (unaffected)

Remediation

No guide yet

No remediation guidance has been written for this CVE yet. What the record does show:

CVSS

6.4MEDIUMCheckmarx
Attack Vector
NETWORK
Complexity
HIGH
Privileges
HIGH
User Interaction
REQUIRED
Scope
UNCHANGED
Confidentiality
HIGH
Integrity
HIGH
Availability
HIGH
Vector?

Quick Info

StatusDEFERRED
CWE
CWE-22

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