CWE-427
Allowed-with-ReviewUncontrolled Search Path Element
Abstraction: Base · Status: Draft
The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.
1859 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-6CMH-XRJ8-PMC5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:08 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:08A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. Exploiting this vulnerability requires the user to have file creation privilege in the Windows root directory (such as C:). This issue impacts: All versions of Cortex XDR agent 6.1 without content update 181 or a later version; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.2 without content update 181 or a later version; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.3 without content update 181 or a later version. Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions are not impacted by this issue. Content updates are required to resolve this issue and are automatically applied for the agent.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-3042"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-07-15T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A local privilege escalation (PE) vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. Exploiting this vulnerability requires the user to have file creation privilege in the Windows root directory (such as C:\\). This issue impacts: All versions of Cortex XDR agent 6.1 without content update 181 or a later version; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.2 without content update 181 or a later version; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.3 without content update 181 or a later version. Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions are not impacted by this issue. Content updates are required to resolve this issue and are automatically applied for the agent.",
"id": "GHSA-6cmh-xrj8-pmc5",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:08:10Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:08:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3042"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2021-3042"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-6F94-33QX-GQCF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:54 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:54The Rust Programming Language rustdoc version Between 0.8 and 1.27.0 contains a CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in rustdoc plugins that can result in local code execution as a different user. This attack appear to be exploitable via using the --plugin flag without the --plugin-path flag. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 1.27.1.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-1000622"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-07-09T20:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The Rust Programming Language rustdoc version Between 0.8 and 1.27.0 contains a CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in rustdoc plugins that can result in local code execution as a different user. This attack appear to be exploitable via using the --plugin flag without the --plugin-path flag. This vulnerability appears to have been fixed in 1.27.1.",
"id": "GHSA-6f94-33qx-gqcf",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:54:06Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:54:06Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-1000622"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/rustlang-security-announcements/4ybxYLTtXuM"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201812-11"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-09/msg00076.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00006.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2019-10/msg00031.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-6FCX-X4G2-7CFW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-24 00:31 – Updated: 2026-04-24 00:31Uncontrolled search path element in Microsoft Power Apps allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-32172"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-23T22:16:33Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in Microsoft Power Apps allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.",
"id": "GHSA-6fcx-x4g2-7cfw",
"modified": "2026-04-24T00:31:51Z",
"published": "2026-04-24T00:31:51Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32172"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-32172"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-6FH7-WGMV-VMRF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-08 00:00 – Updated: 2022-06-14 00:00DLL hijacking vulnerability in KiesWrapper in Samsung Kies prior to version 2.6.4.22043_1 allows attacker to execute arbitrary code.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-30744"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-07T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "DLL hijacking vulnerability in KiesWrapper in Samsung Kies prior to version 2.6.4.22043_1 allows attacker to execute arbitrary code.",
"id": "GHSA-6fh7-wgmv-vmrf",
"modified": "2022-06-14T00:00:26Z",
"published": "2022-06-08T00:00:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-30744"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2022\u0026month=6"
}
],
"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-6G43-MF5Q-88RC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-13 21:30 – Updated: 2024-11-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) Graphics Driver installers for versions 15.40 and 15.45 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-38387"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-13T21:15:25Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) Graphics Driver installers for versions 15.40 and 15.45 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-6g43-mf5q-88rc",
"modified": "2024-11-13T21:30:38Z",
"published": "2024-11-13T21:30:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38387"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01191.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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"
}
]
}
GHSA-6G93-CF4G-MR26
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-06-27 00:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 05:10Trend Micro Security 2021, 2022, and 2023 (Consumer) are vulnerable to a DLL Hijacking vulnerability which could allow an attacker to use a specific executable file as an execution and/or persistence mechanism which could execute a malicious program each time the executable file is started.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-28929"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-06-26T22:15:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Trend Micro Security 2021, 2022, and 2023 (Consumer) are vulnerable to a DLL Hijacking vulnerability which could allow an attacker to use a specific executable file as an execution and/or persistence mechanism which could execute a malicious program each time the executable file is started.",
"id": "GHSA-6g93-cf4g-mr26",
"modified": "2024-04-04T05:10:58Z",
"published": "2023-06-27T00:30:22Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28929"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpcenter.trendmicro.com/en-us/article/tmka-19062"
}
],
"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-6GG5-3JF9-J6CX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-11-18 00:30 – Updated: 2022-11-22 03:30The Zoom Rooms Installer for Windows prior to 5.12.6 contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability. A local low-privileged user could exploit this vulnerability during the install process to escalate their privileges to the SYSTEM user.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-36924"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-11-17T23:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The Zoom Rooms Installer for Windows prior to 5.12.6 contains a local privilege escalation vulnerability. A local low-privileged user could exploit this vulnerability during the install process to escalate their privileges to the SYSTEM user.",
"id": "GHSA-6gg5-3jf9-j6cx",
"modified": "2022-11-22T03:30:59Z",
"published": "2022-11-18T00:30:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-36924"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://explore.zoom.us/en/trust/security/security-bulletin"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-6GJW-R684-5CQG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-07-04 09:32 – Updated: 2026-04-08 15:31Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in ICONICS GENESIS64 all versions, Mitsubishi Electric GENESIS64 all versions and Mitsubishi Electric MC Works64 all versions allows a local attacker to execute a malicious code by storing a specially crafted DLL in a specific folder when GENESIS64 and MC Works64 are installed with the Pager agent in the alarm multi-agent notification feature.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-1182"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-07-04T09:15:02Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in ICONICS GENESIS64 all versions, Mitsubishi Electric GENESIS64 all versions and Mitsubishi Electric MC Works64 all versions allows a local attacker to execute a malicious code by storing a specially crafted DLL in a specific folder when GENESIS64 and MC Works64 are installed with the Pager agent in the alarm multi-agent notification feature.",
"id": "GHSA-6gjw-r684-5cqg",
"modified": "2026-04-08T15:31:42Z",
"published": "2024-07-04T09:32:49Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1182"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/vu/JVNVU98894016"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-24-184-03"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/en/psirt/vulnerability/pdf/2024-004_en.pdf"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/psirt/vulnerability/pdf/2024-004_en.pdf"
}
],
"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-6HWM-XVPH-95VM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-01 20:27 – Updated: 2026-09-01 20:27Two NLTK sites executed the Graphviz dot program by bare name, so process creation resolved it via the search path — and on Windows via the current working directory — rather than a validated absolute location. An attacker who can place a file named dot where resolution looks (the CWD on Windows, or a writable/relative entry such as . on PATH) has their binary executed in place of Graphviz (arbitrary code execution).
Affected (<= 3.10.2):
- nltk.parse.dependencygraph.dot2img — called find_binary("dot") but discarded the returned validated path and then ran the bare name ["dot", ...], so the validation had no effect.
- nltk.translate.api.AlignedSent._repr_svg_ — ran the bare name with no validation at all (IPython SVG rendering).
This is the same class already fixed for the senna, weka, boxer, malt, repp and hunpos wrappers. nltk.internals.find_binary refuses a CWD-relative match for a bare tool name and returns only a trusted absolute path; the fix runs that path in both sites.
Attack demonstration
Captured output, not illustrative. A ./dot that writes a PWNED marker, planted in the CWD with . prepended to PATH.
The vulnerable behaviour (old bare-name exec):
Control (OLD behavior) — bare ['dot'] in this dir with '.' on PATH:
bare ['dot'] executed planted binary = True
The patched functions refuse it:
FIXED code, with ./dot planted and '.' on PATH:
dependencygraph.dot2img : Exception "Cannot find the dot binary..." | planted-binary-executed=False safe
AlignedSent._repr_svg_ : Exception "Cannot find the dot binary..." | planted-binary-executed=False safe
And find_binary itself was attacked directly (the fix trusts nothing else):
Attack 1: ./dot in CWD, no dot on PATH -> LookupError (refused) safe
Attack 2: ./dot/dot (dir 'dot' holding 'dot') -> LookupError (refused) safe
Attack 3: '.' on PATH + ./dot -> LookupError (refused) safe
Attack 4: attacker-writable ABSOLUTE dir on PATH -> returned /…/evilbin/dot (absolute)
Attack 4 is out of scope: trusting an absolute directory that is already on PATH is the operating system's own trust model — an attacker who can write to a PATH directory owns the account regardless of NLTK. find_binary defends specifically against the CWD/relative injection that bare-name exec is vulnerable to (attacks 1–3), which is exactly what this fix inherits.
Environment: python 3.13.7. dot is not required to reproduce — the planted binary is the payload.
{
"affected": [
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 3.10.2"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "nltk"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "3.10.3"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-78680"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-09-01T20:27:20Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Two NLTK sites executed the Graphviz `dot` program by bare name, so process creation resolved it via the search path \u2014 and on Windows via the current working directory \u2014 rather than a validated absolute location. An attacker who can place a file named `dot` where resolution looks (the CWD on Windows, or a writable/relative entry such as `.` on `PATH`) has their binary executed in place of Graphviz (arbitrary code execution).\n\nAffected (\u003c= 3.10.2):\n- `nltk.parse.dependencygraph.dot2img` \u2014 called `find_binary(\"dot\")` but discarded the returned validated path and then ran the bare name `[\"dot\", ...]`, so the validation had no effect.\n- `nltk.translate.api.AlignedSent._repr_svg_` \u2014 ran the bare name with no validation at all (IPython SVG rendering).\n\nThis is the same class already fixed for the senna, weka, boxer, malt, repp and hunpos wrappers. `nltk.internals.find_binary` refuses a CWD-relative match for a bare tool name and returns only a trusted absolute path; the fix runs that path in both sites.\n\n---\n\n## Attack demonstration\nCaptured output, not illustrative. A `./dot` that writes a `PWNED` marker, planted in the CWD with `.` prepended to `PATH`.\n\n**The vulnerable behaviour (old bare-name exec):**\n```\nControl (OLD behavior) \u2014 bare [\u0027dot\u0027] in this dir with \u0027.\u0027 on PATH:\n bare [\u0027dot\u0027] executed planted binary = True\n```\n\n**The patched functions refuse it:**\n```\nFIXED code, with ./dot planted and \u0027.\u0027 on PATH:\n dependencygraph.dot2img : Exception \"Cannot find the dot binary...\" | planted-binary-executed=False safe\n AlignedSent._repr_svg_ : Exception \"Cannot find the dot binary...\" | planted-binary-executed=False safe\n```\n\n**And `find_binary` itself was attacked directly** (the fix trusts nothing else):\n```\nAttack 1: ./dot in CWD, no dot on PATH -\u003e LookupError (refused) safe\nAttack 2: ./dot/dot (dir \u0027dot\u0027 holding \u0027dot\u0027) -\u003e LookupError (refused) safe\nAttack 3: \u0027.\u0027 on PATH + ./dot -\u003e LookupError (refused) safe\nAttack 4: attacker-writable ABSOLUTE dir on PATH -\u003e returned /\u2026/evilbin/dot (absolute)\n```\nAttack 4 is out of scope: trusting an absolute directory that is already on `PATH` is the operating system\u0027s own trust model \u2014 an attacker who can write to a `PATH` directory owns the account regardless of NLTK. `find_binary` defends specifically against the CWD/relative injection that bare-name exec is vulnerable to (attacks 1\u20133), which is exactly what this fix inherits.\n\nEnvironment: python 3.13.7. `dot` is not required to reproduce \u2014 the planted binary is the payload.",
"id": "GHSA-6hwm-xvph-95vm",
"modified": "2026-09-01T20:27:20Z",
"published": "2026-09-01T20:27:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/nltk/nltk/security/advisories/GHSA-6hwm-xvph-95vm"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-78680"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/nltk/nltk/commit/1a3cd1764ab3deb084fb66d0ffb4873717659538"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/nltk/nltk"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/nltk/nltk/releases/tag/v3.10.3"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/nltk-before-arbitrary-code-execution-via-graphviz-dot-binary"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "NLTK: Uncontrolled search path when invoking the Graphviz \u0027dot\u0027 binary"
}
GHSA-6J3M-GFX7-F9RP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-13 21:30 – Updated: 2024-11-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Binary Configuration Tool software for Windows before version 3.4.5 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-23312"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-13T21:15:10Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Binary Configuration Tool software for Windows before version 3.4.5 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-6j3m-gfx7-f9rp",
"modified": "2024-11-13T21:30:35Z",
"published": "2024-11-13T21:30:35Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-23312"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01138.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/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
Strategy: Attack Surface Reduction
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
Strategy: Attack Surface Reduction
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. Since this is a denylist approach, it might not be a complete solution.
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 finding the program using the PATH environment variable, 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.
CAPEC-471: Search Order Hijacking
An adversary exploits a weakness in an application's specification of external libraries to exploit the functionality of the loader where the process loading the library searches first in the same directory in which the process binary resides and then in other directories. Exploitation of this preferential search order can allow an attacker to make the loading process load the adversary's rogue library rather than the legitimate library. This attack can be leveraged with many different libraries and with many different loading processes. No forensic trails are left in the system's registry or file system that an incorrect library had been loaded.