A decompression path is the sequence of code that takes compressed bytes and expands them into usable data. It may include a compression library, input checks, buffer management, and the application logic that consumes the result.
In security, the key question is whether untrusted input can reach this path. A malformed compressed stream may trigger bugs such as an out-of-bounds write, potentially causing a crash or memory corruption. Defenders should identify software that decompresses external data, keep its libraries and runtimes patched, and use appropriate input limits and isolation. Merely having a decompression library installed does not prove exposure; the vulnerable code must be reachable with attacker-controlled input.