@xhmikosr/decompress: Path traversal via symlink chain
Impact
When extracting an untrusted archive with the default decompress(input, output) API, a crafted archive containing a chain of symlink entries can make a later entry resolve outside the output directory. The lexical containment checks pass, but the kernel follows the planted symlinks to a path outside output, letting an attacker write (and read) files outside the intended extraction directory. Overwriting startup scripts or configuration can lead to remote code execution.
This is a bypass of the hardening in GHSA-mp2f-45pm-3cg9. Any application that extracts attacker-controlled archives is affected.
Patches
Fixed in 11.1.4 (latest) and backported to 10.2.2 (release-v10 dist-tag). Upgrade to one of these.
The unmaintained upstream decompress package shares this flaw and will not be patched. Migrate to @xhmikosr/decompress@11.1.4 (or @10.2.2).
Workarounds
None. Do not extract untrusted archives on affected versions. If you cannot upgrade, validate entries out of band and reject any whose resolved path escapes the target directory.
Affected software
Click a technology to see all vulnerabilities affecting it.
| Platform | Package | Vulnerable versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| npm package | decompress | <= 4.2.1 | no fix |
| npm package | @xhmikosr/decompress | >= 11.0.0, < 11.1.4, < 10.2.2 | 11.1.4, 10.2.2 |
References
- https://github.com/XhmikosR/decompress/security/advisories/GHSA-hrh2-vp3x-79xf
- https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-101894
- https://github.com/XhmikosR/decompress/commit/5f4b2f64abb31bbaf1fef8975b595fd7df2558d8
- https://github.com/XhmikosR/decompress/commit/f6c88c668216d6a12c6cecf4fe0b6c70bf77050a
- https://github.com/XhmikosR/decompress
- https://github.com/XhmikosR/decompress/releases/tag/v10.2.2
- https://github.com/XhmikosR/decompress/releases/tag/v11.1.4
- CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N- Weakness (CWE)
CWE-22, CWE-59- Platform
- npm
- Package
decompress, @xhmikosr/decompress- Disclosed
- 29.09.2026
- Updated
- 11.10.2026 10:22
Sources and licenses
OSV / GitHub Advisory Database - GHSA-hrh2-vp3x-79xf - CC BY 4.0
Vulnerability history: decompress
All published vulnerabilities of this package (npm package), newest first. Shows whether this is a one-off slip or a package that needs watching.
- Total entries
- 5
- First → latest
- 09.2020 09.2026
- Without a fix
- 4
- Exploited in attacks
- 0
Severity breakdown
- Critical 3
- Medium 2
Disclosures per year
- 2020: 1
- 2021: 0
- 2022: 0
- 2023: 0
- 2024: 0
- 2025: 0
- 2026: 4
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