CWE-426
Allowed-with-ReviewUntrusted Search Path
Abstraction: Base · Status: Stable
The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control.
892 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-39VJ-PMCW-JG9X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:03 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:03Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installers of ScanSnap Manager prior to versions V7.0L20 and the Software Download Installer prior to WinSSInst2JP.exe and WinSSInst2iX1500JP.exe allows an attacker to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-20722"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-24T04:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installers of ScanSnap Manager prior to versions V7.0L20 and the Software Download Installer prior to WinSSInst2JP.exe and WinSSInst2iX1500JP.exe allows an attacker to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-39vj-pmcw-jg9x",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:03:08Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:03:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20722"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN65733194/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://scansnap.fujitsu.com/global/dl"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3CW8-R66W-2976
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-03-11 18:32 – Updated: 2025-03-11 18:32Illustrator versions 29.2.1, 28.7.4 and earlier are affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that might allow attackers to execute their own programs, access unauthorized data files, or modify configuration in unexpected ways. If the application uses a search path to locate critical resources such as programs, then an attacker could modify that search path to point to a malicious program, which the targeted application would then execute. The problem extends to any type of critical resource that the application trusts.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-27167"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-03-11T18:15:34Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Illustrator versions 29.2.1, 28.7.4 and earlier are affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that might allow attackers to execute their own programs, access unauthorized data files, or modify configuration in unexpected ways. If the application uses a search path to locate critical resources such as programs, then an attacker could modify that search path to point to a malicious program, which the targeted application would then execute. The problem extends to any type of critical resource that the application trusts.",
"id": "GHSA-3cw8-r66w-2976",
"modified": "2025-03-11T18:32:20Z",
"published": "2025-03-11T18:32:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-27167"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/illustrator/apsb25-17.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3CX6-V6RM-9GQV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:40 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:40Untrusted search path vulnerability in screensaver installers (jasdf_01.exe, jasdf_02.exe, jasdf_03.exe, jasdf_04.exe, jasdf_05.exe, scramble_setup.exe, clock_01_setup.exe, clock_02_setup.exe) available prior to May 25, 2017 allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-2176"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-06-09T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in screensaver installers (jasdf_01.exe, jasdf_02.exe, jasdf_03.exe, jasdf_04.exe, jasdf_05.exe, scramble_setup.exe, clock_01_setup.exe, clock_02_setup.exe) available prior to May 25, 2017 allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-3cx6-v6rm-9gqv",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:40:32Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:40:32Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2176"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN41185163/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.mod.go.jp/asdf/information/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98823"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3F7P-X3G9-9GRH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-11 00:02 – Updated: 2022-03-19 00:01In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is inadequately secured. The installer may allow a local attacker to add user-writable directories to the system search path. To exploit, an administrator must have installed Python for all users and enabled PATH entries. A non-administrative user can trigger a repair that incorrectly adds user-writable paths into PATH, enabling search-path hijacking of other users and system services. This affects Python (CPython) through 3.7.12, 3.8.x through 3.8.12, 3.9.x through 3.9.10, and 3.10.x through 3.10.2.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-26488"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-10T17:47:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is inadequately secured. The installer may allow a local attacker to add user-writable directories to the system search path. To exploit, an administrator must have installed Python for all users and enabled PATH entries. A non-administrative user can trigger a repair that incorrectly adds user-writable paths into PATH, enabling search-path hijacking of other users and system services. This affects Python (CPython) through 3.7.12, 3.8.x through 3.8.12, 3.9.x through 3.9.10, and 3.10.x through 3.10.2.",
"id": "GHSA-3f7p-x3g9-9grh",
"modified": "2022-03-19T00:01:28Z",
"published": "2022-03-11T00:02:03Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26488"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce@python.org/thread/657Z4XULWZNIY5FRP3OWXHYKUSIH6DMN"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220419-0005"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3FX6-2V2X-QMR9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-10-24 19:00 – Updated: 2025-05-07 18:30Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installer of Content Transfer (for Windows) Ver.1.3 and prior allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-41796"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-10-24T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in the installer of Content Transfer (for Windows) Ver.1.3 and prior allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-3fx6-2v2x-qmr9",
"modified": "2025-05-07T18:30:35Z",
"published": "2022-10-24T19:00:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-41796"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN40620121/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.sony.jp/support/audiosoftware/contenttransfer"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3GCG-C4CR-6G36
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:15 – Updated: 2023-11-15 21:35A DLL sideloading vulnerability in McAfee Agent for Windows prior to 5.7.4 could allow a local user to perform a DLL sideloading attack with an unsigned DLL with a specific name and in a specific location. This would result in the user gaining elevated permissions and the ability to execute arbitrary code as the system user, through not checking the DLL signature.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-31841"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-347",
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-09-22T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A DLL sideloading vulnerability in McAfee Agent for Windows prior to 5.7.4 could allow a local user to perform a DLL sideloading attack with an unsigned DLL with a specific name and in a specific location. This would result in the user gaining elevated permissions and the ability to execute arbitrary code as the system user, through not checking the DLL signature.",
"id": "GHSA-3gcg-c4cr-6g36",
"modified": "2023-11-15T21:35:02Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:15:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-31841"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content\u0026id=SB10369"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3GFH-9HWX-R3VR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:11 – Updated: 2025-11-04 00:30Encode.pm, as distributed in Perl through 5.34.0, allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse Encode::ConfigLocal library (in the current working directory) that preempts dynamic module loading. Exploitation requires an unusual configuration, and certain 2021 versions of Encode.pm (3.05 through 3.11). This issue occurs because the || operator evaluates @INC in a scalar context, and thus @INC has only an integer value.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-36770"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-08-11T23:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Encode.pm, as distributed in Perl through 5.34.0, allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse Encode::ConfigLocal library (in the current working directory) that preempts dynamic module loading. Exploitation requires an unusual configuration, and certain 2021 versions of Encode.pm (3.05 through 3.11). This issue occurs because the || operator evaluates @INC in a scalar context, and thus @INC has only an integer value.",
"id": "GHSA-3gfh-9hwx-r3vr",
"modified": "2025-11-04T00:30:30Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:11:00Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Perl/perl5/commit/c1a937fef07c061600a0078f4cb53fe9c2136bb9"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/dankogai/p5-encode/commit/527e482dc70b035d0df4f8c77a00d81f8d775c74"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5NDGQSGMEZ75FJGBKNYC75OTO7TF7XHB"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6KOZYD7BH2DNIAEZ2ZL4PJ4QUVQI6Y33"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/5NDGQSGMEZ75FJGBKNYC75OTO7TF7XHB"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce@lists.fedoraproject.org/message/6KOZYD7BH2DNIAEZ2ZL4PJ4QUVQI6Y33"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://metacpan.org/dist/Encode/changes"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://news.cpanel.com/unscheduled-tsr-10-august-2021"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2021-36770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20210909-0003"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20241108-0002"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3GHV-75MW-FC8F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 01:17 – Updated: 2022-05-17 01:17Untrusted search path vulnerability in Installer for ContentsBridge Utility for Windows 7.4.0 and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-10851"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-09-01T14:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in Installer for ContentsBridge Utility for Windows 7.4.0 and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-3ghv-75mw-fc8f",
"modified": "2022-05-17T01:17:01Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T01:17:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-10851"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN09769017/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.fujixerox.co.jp/company/news/notice/2017/0831_rectification_work.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3GR9-X3J4-6CVH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 03:07 – Updated: 2022-05-14 03:07Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft OneDrive allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-0592"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-06-26T14:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft OneDrive allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-3gr9-x3j4-6cvh",
"modified": "2022-05-14T03:07:02Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T03:07:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-0592"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://blogs.technet.microsoft.com/srd/2018/04/04/triaging-a-dll-planting-vulnerability"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN91151862/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104563"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-3GVP-WPMX-3FF3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-27 18:32 – Updated: 2025-01-27 18:32A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Postman up to 11.20 on Windows. This affects an unknown part in the library profapi.dll. The manipulation leads to untrusted search path. An attack has to be approached locally. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitability is told to be difficult. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-0733"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-01-27T18:15:40Z",
"severity": "LOW"
},
"details": "A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, was found in Postman up to 11.20 on Windows. This affects an unknown part in the library profapi.dll. The manipulation leads to untrusted search path. An attack has to be approached locally. The complexity of an attack is rather high. The exploitability is told to be difficult. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
"id": "GHSA-3gvp-wpmx-3ff3",
"modified": "2025-01-27T18:32:02Z",
"published": "2025-01-27T18:32:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-0733"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.293511"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.293511"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.481185"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
Mitigation
Strategy: Attack Surface Reduction
Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
Mitigation
When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
Mitigation
Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.
Mitigation
Check your search path before use and remove any elements that are likely to be unsafe, such as the current working directory or a temporary files directory.
Mitigation
Use other functions that require explicit paths. Making use of any of the other readily available functions that require explicit paths is a safe way to avoid this problem. For example, system() in C does not require a full path since the shell can take care of it, while execl() and execv() require a full path.
CAPEC-38: Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
This pattern of attack sees an adversary load a malicious resource into a program's standard path so that when a known command is executed then the system instead executes the malicious component. The adversary can either modify the search path a program uses, like a PATH variable or classpath, or they can manipulate resources on the path to point to their malicious components. J2EE applications and other component based applications that are built from multiple binaries can have very long list of dependencies to execute. If one of these libraries and/or references is controllable by the attacker then application controls can be circumvented by the attacker.