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-7GRG-5M65-97HJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-27 09:31 – Updated: 2026-05-27 09:31A local user with low privileges may be able to influence the behavior of a privileged system service by manipulating configuration or application-related files located in user-writable areas of the filesystem. The affected service processes data from locations that are not sufficiently protected against modification by low-privileged users. As the service runs with elevated privileges, successful exploitation may result in a local privilege escalation.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-41670"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-05-27T08:16:39Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A local user with low privileges may be able to influence the behavior of a privileged system service by manipulating configuration or application-related files located in user-writable areas of the filesystem. The affected service processes data from locations that are not sufficiently protected against modification by low-privileged users. As the service runs with elevated privileges, successful exploitation may result in a local privilege escalation.",
"id": "GHSA-7grg-5m65-97hj",
"modified": "2026-05-27T09:31:14Z",
"published": "2026-05-27T09:31:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-41670"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.certvde.com/en/advisories/VDE-2026-050"
}
],
"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:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/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-7H6P-3F29-V8VH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-08-12 18:31 – Updated: 2025-08-12 18:31Uncontrolled search path for some Clock Jitter Tool software before version 6.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-20092"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-08-12T17:15:29Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Clock Jitter Tool software before version 6.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-7h6p-3f29-v8vh",
"modified": "2025-08-12T18:31:27Z",
"published": "2025-08-12T18:31:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20092"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01316.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-7HCP-86W9-522M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 00:00 – Updated: 2022-05-24 00:00Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) XTU software before version 7.3.0.33 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-22139"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-05-12T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) XTU software before version 7.3.0.33 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-7hcp-86w9-522m",
"modified": "2022-05-24T00:00:31Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T00:00:49Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22139"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00663.html"
}
],
"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-7HR2-2P6F-7H25
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:47 – Updated: 2025-04-20 03:38A DLL Hijacking vulnerability in the programming software in Schneider Electric's SoMachine HVAC v2.1.0 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system. The vulnerability exists due to the improper loading of a DLL.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-7966"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-06-07T19:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A DLL Hijacking vulnerability in the programming software in Schneider Electric\u0027s SoMachine HVAC v2.1.0 allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system. The vulnerability exists due to the improper loading of a DLL.",
"id": "GHSA-7hr2-2p6f-7h25",
"modified": "2025-04-20T03:38:36Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:47:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-7966"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.schneider-electric.com/en/download/document/SEVD-2017-125-02"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/98446"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-7J6X-CRQM-F55C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:37 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:37An untrusted search path (aka DLL Preload) vulnerability in the Cisco Network Academy Packet Tracer software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary code via DLL hijacking if a local user with administrative privileges executes the installer in the current working directory where a crafted DLL has been placed by an attacker. The vulnerability is due to incomplete input validation of path and file names of a DLL file before it is loaded. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a malicious DLL file and installing it in a specific system directory. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying Microsoft Windows host with privileges equivalent to the SYSTEM account. An attacker would need valid user credentials to exploit this vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-12313"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-20",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-11-16T07:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An untrusted search path (aka DLL Preload) vulnerability in the Cisco Network Academy Packet Tracer software could allow an authenticated, local attacker to execute arbitrary code via DLL hijacking if a local user with administrative privileges executes the installer in the current working directory where a crafted DLL has been placed by an attacker. The vulnerability is due to incomplete input validation of path and file names of a DLL file before it is loaded. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by creating a malicious DLL file and installing it in a specific system directory. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute commands on the underlying Microsoft Windows host with privileges equivalent to the SYSTEM account. An attacker would need valid user credentials to exploit this vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-7j6x-crqm-f55c",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:37:53Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:37:53Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12313"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20171115-cpt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/101858"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-7JF5-QWQ5-9P84
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 18:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 18:30Uncontrolled search path for the Instrumentation and Tracing Technology API (ITT API) software before version 3.25.4 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an authenticated user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present without special internal knowledge and requires active user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-31931"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-11-11T17:15:48Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for the Instrumentation and Tracing Technology API (ITT API) software before version 3.25.4 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an authenticated user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present without special internal knowledge and requires active user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.",
"id": "GHSA-7jf5-qwq5-9p84",
"modified": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-31931"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01337.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-7JXG-8V97-VXFR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-07-13 21:31 – Updated: 2026-07-13 21:31ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file. Scope is changed.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-48364"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-07-13T21:16:48Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "ColdFusion versions 2025.9, 2023.20 and earlier are affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file. Scope is changed.",
"id": "GHSA-7jxg-8v97-vxfr",
"modified": "2026-07-13T21:31:25Z",
"published": "2026-07-13T21:31:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-48364"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/coldfusion/apsb26-68.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-7MCH-783H-Q63M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:08 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:08The Zscaler Client Connector for Windows prior to 2.1.2.105 had a DLL hijacking vulnerability caused due to the configuration of OpenSSL. A local adversary may be able to execute arbitrary code in the SYSTEM context.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-11634"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-07-15T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The Zscaler Client Connector for Windows prior to 2.1.2.105 had a DLL hijacking vulnerability caused due to the configuration of OpenSSL. A local adversary may be able to execute arbitrary code in the SYSTEM context.",
"id": "GHSA-7mch-783h-q63m",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:08:08Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:08:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-11634"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://help.zscaler.com/zscaler-client-connector/client-connector-app-release-summary-2020?applicable_category=Windows\u0026applicable_version=2.1.2.105"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-7P4F-QG9W-H35J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-08-12 18:31 – Updated: 2025-08-12 18:31Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) AI for Enterprise Retrieval-augmented Generation software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-24923"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-08-12T17:15:35Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) AI for Enterprise Retrieval-augmented Generation software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-7p4f-qg9w-h35j",
"modified": "2025-08-12T18:31:29Z",
"published": "2025-08-12T18:31:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-24923"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01338.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-7P63-78WP-5M6F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-16 18:32 – Updated: 2026-03-16 21:34A local, non-privileged attacker can abuse a vulnerable IOCTL interface exposed by the OpenEDR 2.5.1.0 kernel driver to modify the DLL injection path used by the product. By redirecting this path to a user-writable location, an attacker can cause OpenEDR to load an attacker-controlled DLL into high-privilege processes. This results in arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges, leading to full compromise of the affected system.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-69784"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-03-16T16:16:13Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A local, non-privileged attacker can abuse a vulnerable IOCTL interface exposed by the OpenEDR 2.5.1.0 kernel driver to modify the DLL injection path used by the product. By redirecting this path to a user-writable location, an attacker can cause OpenEDR to load an attacker-controlled DLL into high-privilege processes. This results in arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges, leading to full compromise of the affected system.",
"id": "GHSA-7p63-78wp-5m6f",
"modified": "2026-03-16T21:34:32Z",
"published": "2026-03-16T18:32:03Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-69784"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ComodoSecurity/openedr/issues/49"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gist.github.com/ikerl/c3ec81f12ded44c2e0ae2dfdacb562ba"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ComodoSecurity/openedr"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://scavengersecurity.com/posts/edr-as-rootkit-2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.openedr.com"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
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.