CVE-2026-69973

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Path Traversal in Windows Libarchive

Publication date: 2026-10-13

Last updated on: 2026-10-16

Assigner: Microsoft Corporation

Description

Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('path traversal') in Windows Libarchive allows an unauthorized attacker to perform tampering over a network.

CVSS Scores

EPSS Scores

Probability:
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Meta Information

Published

2026-10-13

Last Modified

2026-10-16

Generated

2026-10-19

AI Q&A

2026-10-14

EPSS Evaluated

2026-10-18

NVD

CVE-2026-69973

EUVD

EUVD-2026-99126

Affected Vendors & Products

Vendor	Product	Version / Range
Microsoft	Windows	10 Version 1809 10.0.17763.0
Microsoft	Windows	10 Version 21H2 10.0.19044.0
Microsoft	Windows	10 Version 22H2 10.0.19045.0
Microsoft	Windows	11 version 23H2 10.0.22631.0
Microsoft	Windows	11 Version 23H2 10.0.22631.0
Microsoft	Windows	11 Version 24H2 10.0.26100.0
Microsoft	Windows	11 Version 25H2 10.0.26200.0
Microsoft	Windows	11 version 26H1 10.0.28000.0
Microsoft	Windows	11 Version 26H2 10.0.26300.0
Microsoft	Windows	Server 2019 10.0.17763.0
Microsoft	Windows	Server 2019 (Server Core installation) 10.0.17763.0
Microsoft	Windows	Server 2022 10.0.20348.0
Microsoft	Windows	Server 2025 10.0.26100.0
Microsoft	Windows	Server 2025 (Server Core installation) 10.0.26100.0

Helpful Resources

Exploitability

CWE

KEV

CWE ID	Description
CWE-22	The product uses external input to construct a pathname that is intended to identify a file or directory that is located underneath a restricted parent directory, but the product does not properly neutralize special elements within the pathname that can cause the pathname to resolve to a location that is outside of the restricted directory.

Attack-Flow Graph

Executive Summary

This is a path traversal vulnerability in Windows Libarchive. It allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass path restrictions and tamper with files over a network by manipulating file paths.

Impact Analysis

An attacker could modify sensitive files, inject malicious code, or alter system configurations. This could lead to data corruption, unauthorized access, or system instability if exploited.

Compliance Impact

This vulnerability allows unauthorized tampering via path traversal, which could lead to unauthorized data modification. This may violate GDPR's integrity principle (Article 5) and HIPAA's integrity requirements (45 CFR § 164.312(c)(1)), potentially resulting in non-compliance if exploited.

Mitigation Strategies

Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft to patch the Windows Libarchive path traversal vulnerability. Monitor Microsoft's update guide for specific patches and install them promptly.

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