In early 2019, security researchers discovered a critical flaw in how WinRAR handled .ace archive formats. This was a major news story because the vulnerability had existed undetected for nearly two decades.
: Attackers could create a malicious archive that, when extracted, would place a file in the Windows "Startup" folder instead of the intended extraction path. This allowed for remote code execution , meaning a hacker could gain control of a PC just by having a user open a specifically crafted file. Download news 2019 rar
: As of 2023, Microsoft announced that Windows 11 supports RAR files natively , meaning users no longer strictly need to download third-party software like WinRAR to open basic archives. In early 2019, security researchers discovered a critical
: Since the original developer of the library was out of business, WinRAR (RARLAB) could not patch the code. Instead, they removed support for ACE archives entirely starting with WinRAR version 5.70. Summary of WinRAR News & Updates This allowed for remote code execution , meaning
: More recent vulnerabilities, such as CVE-2023-40477 and CVE-2025-8088 , continue to highlight the importance of keeping archive tools updated to the latest versions (currently v7.xx). Safety Recommendations
: Released in December 2019, this version included several stability improvements and followed the major security overhaul of version 5.70.
: Avoid downloading "rar" files from untrusted news sites or email attachments, as these formats are frequently used to deliver malware or "Venom RAT" infections.
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