CVE-2025-14111: Rarlab RAR Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2025-14111 Overview

CVE-2025-14111 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] in the Rarlab RAR application for Android, affecting versions up to 7.11 Build 127. The flaw resides in an unspecified component of the com.rarlab.rar package and enables arbitrary file read and write operations on the device. Only the Android edition of RAR is affected. WinRAR and Unix RAR versions are not impacted by this issue. Rarlab addressed the vulnerability in RAR for Android 7.20 build 128, with the fix referenced in the official changelog. The exploit details have been disclosed publicly through a third-party report.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation enables arbitrary file read and write within the Android application's accessible storage, potentially exposing user data or overwriting application files.

Affected Products

• Rarlab RAR for Android versions up to 7.11 Build 127
• Component: com.rarlab.rar Android application package
• Google Android operating system as the host platform

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-12-05 - CVE-2025-14111 published to NVD
• 2026-04-29 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14111

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a classic path traversal weakness within the com.rarlab.rar Android application. RAR archives can contain entries whose names include directory traversal sequences such as ../. When the application extracts these entries without canonicalizing the resulting file paths, the output can escape the intended extraction directory. This allows a crafted archive to direct file writes to arbitrary locations accessible to the app, or trigger reads from unintended paths during preview operations. The vendor classifies this as a real vulnerability specific to RAR for Android. The attack vector is network-based because malicious archives can be delivered via email, messaging applications, or web downloads. Exploitation requires the user to open and process a crafted archive, and the overall complexity is rated high.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient validation of file path components contained inside archive entries during extraction. The application does not normalize archive entry names or verify that the resolved destination remains within the intended output directory. This permits relative path segments like .. to redirect file operations outside the expected scope, satisfying the conditions described in CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a RAR archive containing entries with traversal sequences in their file names. The attacker then delivers the archive to a target through email, a messaging app, or a web download. When the victim opens the archive in the vulnerable RAR for Android app, extraction writes files to attacker-chosen locations within the app's accessible file space. The attacker can also trigger reads from sensitive paths, depending on the file operation performed. See the public vulnerability report for additional technical detail.

No verified proof-of-concept code is reproduced here. Refer to the linked report for the disclosed exploitation details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14111

Indicators of Compromise

• Presence of the RAR for Android app (com.rarlab.rar) at a version at or below 7.11 Build 127 on managed devices.
• Unexpected files appearing outside the standard RAR extraction directory under the app's storage scope.
• RAR archives containing entries whose names include ../ or absolute path components.

Detection Strategies

• Inventory Android endpoints with mobile device management (MDM) tooling and flag installations of com.rarlab.rar below version 7.20 build 128.
• Inspect archive files transiting email and web gateways for entries containing directory traversal sequences in their headers.
• Correlate user-initiated archive extraction events with subsequent file creations outside expected application directories.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Monitor MDM compliance reports for outdated RAR for Android versions and trigger remediation workflows automatically.
• Log and review archive download events from untrusted senders or domains where the file extension is .rar.
• Track mobile threat defense alerts related to suspicious file write behavior originating from archive utilities.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14111

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade RAR for Android to version 7.20 build 128 or later on all affected devices via Google Play or the vendor's distribution channel.
• Identify devices running com.rarlab.rar at version 7.11 Build 127 or earlier through MDM inventory and prioritize them for update.
• Instruct users to avoid opening RAR archives received from untrusted sources until the update is applied.

Patch Information

Rarlab fixed the vulnerability in RAR for Android 7.20 build 128. The vendor confirmed the fix in the application changelog and stated that WinRAR and Unix RAR are not affected. Update through the Google Play Store or download the latest package directly from the Rarlab website.

Workarounds

• Uninstall RAR for Android until the device can be updated to 7.20 build 128 if immediate patching is not feasible.
• Use an alternative archive utility that is not affected by this issue for handling untrusted RAR files.
• Restrict the app's storage permissions on Android to limit the scope of files reachable during extraction.

# MDM query example: list devices with vulnerable RAR for Android versions
# (pseudocode for an MDM/EMM inventory query)
SELECT device_id, user, app_version
FROM installed_apps
WHERE package_name = 'com.rarlab.rar'
  AND app_version < '7.20.128';