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.
1786 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-93HW-XC5X-9VWP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:37 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:37An Uncontrolled Search Path Element issue was discovered in Trihedral VTScada 11.3.03 and prior. The program will execute specially crafted malicious dll files placed on the target machine.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-14029"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-11-06T22:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An Uncontrolled Search Path Element issue was discovered in Trihedral VTScada 11.3.03 and prior. The program will execute specially crafted malicious dll files placed on the target machine.",
"id": "GHSA-93hw-xc5x-9vwp",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:37:39Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:37:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-14029"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-17-304-02"
}
],
"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-93Q5-FMHM-MP7P
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-07-08 03:32 – Updated: 2024-07-08 03:32IBM System Management for i 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4 could allow a local user to gain elevated privileges due to an unqualified library program call. A malicious actor could cause user-controlled code to run with administrator privilege. IBM X-Force ID: 295227.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-38330"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-07-08T02:15:01Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "IBM System Management for i 7.2, 7.3, and 7.4 could allow a local user to gain elevated privileges due to an unqualified library program call. A malicious actor could cause user-controlled code to run with administrator privilege. IBM X-Force ID: 295227.",
"id": "GHSA-93q5-fmhm-mp7p",
"modified": "2024-07-08T03:32:13Z",
"published": "2024-07-08T03:32:13Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38330"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/295227"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7159615"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-93W2-C8X3-CR39
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-30 00:00 – Updated: 2022-07-09 00:00A binary hijack in Orwell-Dev-Cpp v5.11 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .exe file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-33037"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-29T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A binary hijack in Orwell-Dev-Cpp v5.11 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .exe file.",
"id": "GHSA-93w2-c8x3-cr39",
"modified": "2022-07-09T00:00:24Z",
"published": "2022-06-30T00:00:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-33037"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ycdxsb/Vuln/blob/main/Orwell-Dev-Cpp-CreateProcessA-Misuse-Binary-Hijack/Orwell-Dev-Cpp-CreateProcessA-Misuse-Binary-Hijack.md"
}
],
"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-946V-PV29-Q7HV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-21 00:00 – Updated: 2022-06-29 00:00An uncontrolled search path vulnerability in McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool prior to version 10.4.128 could allow a local attacker to perform a sideloading attack by using a specific file name. This could result in the user gaining elevated permissions and being able to execute arbitrary code as there were insufficient checks on the executable being signed by McAfee.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-1824"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-20T11:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path vulnerability in McAfee Consumer Product Removal Tool prior to version 10.4.128 could allow a local attacker to perform a sideloading attack by using a specific file name. This could result in the user gaining elevated permissions and being able to execute arbitrary code as there were insufficient checks on the executable being signed by McAfee.",
"id": "GHSA-946v-pv29-q7hv",
"modified": "2022-06-29T00:00:27Z",
"published": "2022-06-21T00:00:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-1824"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://service.mcafee.com/?articleId=TS103318\u0026page=shell\u0026shell=article-view"
}
],
"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-94PQ-WCGQ-8GPJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-14 15:31 – Updated: 2024-08-14 15:31Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) MPI Library software before version 2021.12 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-28876"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-08-14T14:15:25Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) MPI Library software before version 2021.12 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-94pq-wcgq-8gpj",
"modified": "2024-08-14T15:31:16Z",
"published": "2024-08-14T15:31:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28876"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01115.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-95GH-F9P8-HGVJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:11 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:11An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 10.1.4. It allows DLL hijacking, aka CNVD-C-2021-68000 and CNVD-C-2021-68502.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-38571"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-08-11T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An issue was discovered in Foxit Reader and PhantomPDF before 10.1.4. It allows DLL hijacking, aka CNVD-C-2021-68000 and CNVD-C-2021-68502.",
"id": "GHSA-95gh-f9p8-hgvj",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:11:01Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:11:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38571"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.php"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-95J5-5WC5-5HVQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:47 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:47Dell Peripheral Manager 1.3.1 or greater contains remediation for a local privilege escalation vulnerability that could be potentially exploited to gain arbitrary code execution on the system with privileges of the system user.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-21545"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-04-12T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Dell Peripheral Manager 1.3.1 or greater contains remediation for a local privilege escalation vulnerability that could be potentially exploited to gain arbitrary code execution on the system with privileges of the system user.",
"id": "GHSA-95j5-5wc5-5hvq",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:47:06Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:47:06Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21545"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000185100/dsa-2021-079-dell-client-security-update-for-dell-peripheral-manager-local-privilege-escalation-vulnerability"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-9626-78XH-92CX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-12 15:30 – Updated: 2026-06-12 15:30MobaXterm Personal Edition (Portable), in its 26.3 version (Build 5154), allows arbitrary code execution by loading malicious DLLs from a temporary directory that is predictable and can be modified by the user. During startup, the application searches for specific DLLs in this location before resorting to the system’s secure paths, enabling an attacker with local access to place a specially crafted DLL to be executed automatically when the victim launches the application.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-11879"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-06-12T14:16:29Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "MobaXterm Personal Edition (Portable), in its 26.3 version (Build 5154), allows arbitrary code execution by loading malicious DLLs from a temporary directory that is predictable and can be modified by the user. During startup, the application searches for specific DLLs in this location before resorting to the system\u2019s secure paths, enabling an attacker with local access to place a specially crafted DLL to be executed automatically when the victim launches the application.",
"id": "GHSA-9626-78xh-92cx",
"modified": "2026-06-12T15:30:34Z",
"published": "2026-06-12T15:30:34Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-11879"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.incibe.es/en/incibe-cert/notices/aviso/multiple-vulnerabilities-mobateks-mobaxterm-personal-edition-portable"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"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/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-964F-4H8C-RCXX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:31 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:31Adobe Photoshop for Windows version 21.2.1 (and earlier) is 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.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-24420"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-10-21T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Adobe Photoshop for Windows version 21.2.1 (and earlier) is 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.",
"id": "GHSA-964f-4h8c-rcxx",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:31:42Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:31:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-24420"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/photoshop/apsb20-63.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-967F-698G-56VH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-10 18:31 – Updated: 2025-10-10 18:31NVIDIA Display Driver contains a vulnerability where an uncontrolled DLL loading path might lead to arbitrary denial of service, escalation of privileges, code execution, and data tampering.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-23309"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-10-10T18:15:39Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "NVIDIA Display Driver contains a vulnerability where an uncontrolled DLL loading path might lead to arbitrary denial of service, escalation of privileges, code execution, and data tampering.",
"id": "GHSA-967f-698g-56vh",
"modified": "2025-10-10T18:31:23Z",
"published": "2025-10-10T18:31:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-23309"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5703"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-23309"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.