(0Day) Microsoft Windows TAR File UI Misrepresentation Vulnerability
Vulnerability Details
This vulnerability allows remote attackers to disguise hard links on affected installations of Microsoft Windows. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the rendering of the contents of TAR files. Windows displays hard links within TAR files without providing any visual indication to differentiate them from normal files. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to deceive a user regarding the trustworthiness of a file.
Additional Details
07/25/25 - ZDI reported the vulnerability to the vendor
07/25/25 – the vendor acknowledged the receipt of the report
07/28/25 – the vendor asked for technical details
07/28/25 - ZDI provided more information
09/16/25 – the vendor communicated that the reported behavior did not meet the bar for immediate servicing
11/26/25 – ZDI notified the vendor of the intention to publish the case as a 0-day advisory on 12/10/25
-- Mitigation: Given the nature of the vulnerability, the only salient mitigation strategy is to restrict interaction with the product
Disclosure Timeline
- 2025-07-25 - Vulnerability reported to vendor
- 2025-12-10 - Coordinated public release of advisory
- 2025-12-10 - Advisory Updated
Credit
Len Sadowski and Oguz Bektas
