What is CVE-2005-1918?

CVE-2005-1918 is a vulnerability in GNU Tar, classified under Path Traversal. Published 2005-12-31.

Is CVE-2005-1918 known to be exploited?

1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Path Traversal in GNU Tar

CVE-2005-1918

The original patch for a GNU tar directory traversal vulnerability (CVE-2002-0399) in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 3 and 2.1 uses an "incorrect optimization" that allows user-assisted attackers to overwrite arbitrary files via a crafted tar file, probably involving "/../" sequences with a leading "/".

Vulnerability class: Path Traversal (Directory Traversal)

Published 2005-12-31 · last modified 2026-06-16.

CVSS v2 metric

CVSS v2 base score 2.6 (Low). Vector: AV:N/AC:H/Au:N/C:N/I:P/A:N. This CVE predates CVSS v3 and has no v3 score from NVD.

EPSS exploit prediction

EPSS: 0.029 (87.1th percentile), scored 2026-11-01.

Low probability of exploitation in the next 30 days, but still tracked. 87th percentile — 87.1% of CVEs in the catalogue have a lower EPSS than this one. How to read EPSS.

EPSS over last 30 days · oldest: 0.029 · newest: 0.029 · change: 0.000

Affected products

GNU Tar — versions 1.13.25
Red Hat Enterprise Linux — versions 2.1, 3.0
Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop — versions 3.0
Red Hat Linux Advanced Workstation — versions 2.1

Weakness classification (CWE)

CWE-22 — Path Traversal

Public proof-of-concept exploits

ARPSyndicate/cve-scores

References

oval.cisecurity.org/repository/search/definition/oval:org.mitre.oval:def:9946 (signature, vdb-entry)
www.securityfocus.com/bid/5834 (Patch, vdb-entry)
www.novell.com/linux/security/advisories/2006_05_sr.html (vendor-advisory, Vendor Advisory)
securitytracker.com/id (Patch, vdb-entry)
support.avaya.com/elmodocs2/security/ASA-2006-110.htm
secunia.com/advisories/18988 (Patch, Vendor Advisory, third-party-advisory)
secunia.com/advisories/19130 (Vendor Advisory, third-party-advisory)
www.redhat.com/support/errata/RHSA-2006-0195.html (vendor-advisory, Patch, Vendor Advisory)
secunia.com/advisories/20397 (Vendor Advisory, third-party-advisory)
www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/430297/100/0/threaded (vendor-advisory)

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2005-1918?: CVE-2005-1918 is a vulnerability in GNU Tar, classified under Path Traversal. Published 2005-12-31.
Is CVE-2005-1918 known to be exploited?: 1 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.