Months After Patch, WinRAR Bug Poised to Hit SMBs Hardest

darkreading

January 28, 2026 at 10:48 PM

Actively Exploited

Overview

A vulnerability in WinRAR, a popular file compression software, is being exploited by Russian and Chinese nation-state attackers, even though a patch was released last July to fix the issue. This flaw poses a significant risk, particularly to small and medium-sized businesses (SMBs), which may not have updated their software or may be unaware of the vulnerability. The fact that this exploitation is ongoing months after the patch was issued raises concerns about the security practices of many organizations. Companies using affected versions of WinRAR need to take immediate action to protect themselves from potential breaches. Staying updated with software patches is crucial, especially when attackers are targeting known vulnerabilities.

Key Takeaways

Active Exploitation: This vulnerability is being actively exploited by attackers. Immediate action is recommended.
Affected Systems: WinRAR versions prior to the patch released in July 2023
Action Required: Users should update to the latest version of WinRAR as per the July 2023 patch.
Timeline: Disclosed on July 2023

Original Article Summary

Russian and Chinese nation-state attackers are exploiting a months-old WinRAR vulnerability, despite a patch that came out last July.

Impact

WinRAR versions prior to the patch released in July 2023

Exploitation Status

This vulnerability is confirmed to be actively exploited by attackers in real-world attacks. Organizations should prioritize patching or implementing workarounds immediately.

Timeline

Disclosed on July 2023

Remediation

Users should update to the latest version of WinRAR as per the July 2023 patch.

Additional Information

This threat intelligence is aggregated from trusted cybersecurity sources. For the most up-to-date information, technical details, and official vendor guidance, please refer to the original article linked below.

Related Topics: This incident relates to Vulnerability, Patch.

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