Malicious Startup LNK Dropped by WinRAR via CVE-2025-8088 Path Traversal

ATT&CK techniques

Execution → Priv Esc

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
Persistence
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Priv Esc
- T1547.001Registry Run Keys / Startup Folder
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects the WinRAR process writing a shortcut (.lnk) file into a user or common Startup folder, behavior produced when RomCom and others exploit the CVE-2025-8088 alternate data stream path traversal flaw to gain persistence. Archive tools should not place shortcuts into autostart locations, so this write indicates exploitation and persistence installation.

Reporting behind it

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Malicious Startup LNK Dropped by WinRAR via CVE-2025-8088 Path Traversal

Pivot detection · T1547.001 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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