---
title: "CVE-2023-38831: Insufficient Type Distinction | CubePath"
description: "RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive. The issue occurs…"
language: en
source: https://cubepath.com/security/cve/CVE-2023-38831
---

# CVE-2023-38831: Insufficient Type Distinction | CubePath

## Description

RARLAB WinRAR before 6.23 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a user attempts to view a benign file within a ZIP archive. The issue occurs because a ZIP archive may include a benign file (such as an ordinary .JPG file) and also a folder that has the same name as the benign file, and the contents of the folder (which may include executable content) are processed during an attempt to access only the benign file. This was exploited in the wild in April through October 2023.

Official description from the CVE record, published by mitre. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CVE license. [View the record on cve.org](https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-38831)

## Key data

### CVSS 3.1 High 7.8

Score published by CISA-ADP in the CVE record.

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

| Metric                 | Value     | What it means                                                                             |
| ---------------------- | --------- | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| Attack vector          | Local     | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity      | Low       | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.                     |
| Privileges required    | None      | No account or privileges are needed.                                                      |
| User interaction       | Required  | A user has to do something first, such as opening a file or following a link.             |
| Scope                  | Unchanged | The impact stays within the vulnerable component.                                         |
| Confidentiality impact | High      | Serious or total effect on the secrecy of data.                                           |
| Integrity impact       | High      | Serious or total effect on the trustworthiness of data.                                   |
| Availability impact    | High      | Serious or total effect on availability.                                                  |

CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at [first.org/cvss](https://www.first.org/cvss/) .

### EPSS

Exploit Prediction Scoring System by FIRST: an estimate of the probability that exploitation activity will be observed in the next 30 days.

Score

0.99815 (99.8% probability)

Percentile

99.95%

Scores of

Nov 10, 2026

Model

v2026.06.15

### CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities

This CVE is listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

Name in the catalog

RARLAB WinRAR Code Execution Vulnerability

Added to the catalog

Aug 24, 2023

Federal due date

Sep 14, 2023

Ransomware campaigns

Known use

### CISA assessment as of Aug 23, 2023

Stakeholder-Specific Vulnerability Categorization (SSVC) decision points added by CISA.

Exploitation

Recorded by CISA as active

Automatable

no

Technical impact

total

### Weakness (CWE)

CWE catalog version 5.0.

CWE names: Copyright © 2006-2026, The MITRE Corporation. See [/security/cve/legal](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal) for the CWE license.

- [CWE-351](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/351.html) Insufficient Type Distinction

## References

Links listed in the CVE record. They lead to other sites, which CubePath does not control.

- [group-ib.com/blog/cve-2023-38831-winrar-zero-day](https://www.group-ib.com/blog/cve-2023-38831-winrar-zero-day/)
- [bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-zero-day-exploite…](https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/winrar-zero-day-exploited-since-april-to-hack-trading-accounts/)
- [news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37236100](https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=37236100)
- [packetstormsecurity.com/files/174573/WinRAR-Remote-Code-Exe…](http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/174573/WinRAR-Remote-Code-Execution.html)
- [blog.google/threat-analysis-group/government-backed-actors-…](https://blog.google/threat-analysis-group/government-backed-actors-exploiting-winrar-vulnerability/)

## Timeline

1. ID reserved Jul 25, 2023
2. Record published Aug 23, 2023
3. Added to CISA KEV Aug 24, 2023
4. Record last updated Aug 5, 2026

## Look up another CVE

## About CubePath

CubePath is a cloud provider with data centers in Europe and the United States. It offers VPS, bare metal servers and DDoS protection.

[Cloud VPS](https://cubepath.com/vps) [DDoS protection](https://cubepath.com/ddos-protection)

Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 20:04 UTC. [Sources and licenses](https://cubepath.com/security/cve/legal)