bestzip: Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command
CVE-2026-80427 is a high-severity improper neutralization of argument delimiters in a command vulnerability in bestzip from Nfriedly, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.4 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, without any action from a user. The record lists versions 2.2.6, 3.0.2 as the first without the flaw, so updating bestzip to one of those releases or later removes the exposure. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.21% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Update bestzip to 2.2.6 or 3.0.2, whichever matches your release line, or a later version.
- Read the advisory on github.com for workarounds and exact fixed builds.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nfriedly | bestzip | before 2.2.6; 3.0.0 up to, but not including, 3.0.2 | 2.2.6, 3.0.2 |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- NoneNo action by a victim is required.
- Scope
- UnchangedImpact stays within the vulnerable component.
- Confidentiality
- HighAll data handled by the component can be read.
- Integrity
- HighData or code can be modified at will.
- Availability
- HighThe component can be taken down completely.
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H. Scored by CNA (vulncheck.com).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.6 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
| CVSS 3.1 | 8.4 | High | CNA (vulncheck.com) |
Official description
bestzip builds the argument list for the system zip utility without separating options from operands. The destination archive path and the caller-supplied source paths are passed to the child process with no -- delimiter between them, so any source entry beginning with a hyphen is interpreted by zip as an option rather than a file name. zip accepts -T to test the finished archive and -TT to name the command used to perform that test, so a source list containing those two entries and a command string causes zip to run that command through a shell once the archive has been written. An application that passes a file name or path it received from an untrusted source into the bestzip API therefore executes a command of the supplier's choosing. Versions 2.2.6 and 3.0.2 add the delimiter.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command
The product constructs a string for a command to be executed by a separate component in another control sphere, but it does not properly delimit the intended arguments, options, or switches within that command string.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Understand all the potential areas where untrusted inputs can enter your product: parameters or arguments, cookies, anything read from the network, environment variables, request headers as well as content, URL components, e-mail, files, databases, and any external systems that provide data to the application. Perform input validation at well-defined interfaces.
- Directly convert your input type into the expected data type, such as using a conversion function that translates a string into a number. After converting to the expected data type, ensure that the input's values fall within the expected range of allowable values and that multi-field consistencies are maintained.
- When exchanging data between components, ensure that both components are using the same character encoding. Ensure that the proper encoding is applied at each interface. Explicitly set the encoding you are using whenever the protocol allows you to do so.
More Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command vulnerabilities (CWE-88)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: poc, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Other references
Other vulnerabilities in bestzip
- 8.4 High severity
Recent Improper Neutralization of Argument Delimiters in a Command vulnerabilities
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 9.8 Critical severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 9.9 Critical severity
- 8.8 High severity
- 10.0 Critical severity
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