The ZIP algorithm can compress repetitive data (like a file filled entirely with zeros) extremely efficiently. A 10 GB file of zeros can be compressed into a few megabytes.
A tiny compressed file (often only a few kilobytes or megabytes in size) that expands into a gargantuan amount of data (petabytes, exabytes, or "infinite" space) upon extraction. Infinite.zip
It relies on recursive compression —layers upon layers of nested ZIP files. A single file might contain 100 zip files, each containing 100 more, and so on. 2. How it Works (The Mechanics) The ZIP algorithm can compress repetitive data (like
It is used to overwhelm security software that attempts to scan within archives, preventing it from detecting other, actual malicious files. 4. Mitigation and Defense It relies on recursive compression —layers upon layers
Do not extract unknown or unexpectedly small zip files from untrusted sources. zip and recursive zip bombs ? 42.zip (2004) - Hacker News
Here is a deep report on its mechanics, purpose, and mitigation: 1. What is it?