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-9J8V-79V3-WCMP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-21 00:31 – Updated: 2026-02-21 00:31PDF-XChange Editor TrackerUpdate Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the TrackerUpdate process. The product loads a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of a target user. Was ZDI-CAN-27788.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-2040"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-02-20T23:16:04Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "PDF-XChange Editor TrackerUpdate Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of PDF-XChange Editor. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the TrackerUpdate process. The product loads a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute code in the context of a target user. Was ZDI-CAN-27788.",
"id": "GHSA-9j8v-79v3-wcmp",
"modified": "2026-02-21T00:31:43Z",
"published": "2026-02-21T00:31:43Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-2040"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-122"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9JX4-X9VH-HGRP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-02-16 21:30 – Updated: 2023-03-06 21:30Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Network Adapter installer software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-41314"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-02-16T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Network Adapter installer software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-9jx4-x9vh-hgrp",
"modified": "2023-03-06T21:30:19Z",
"published": "2023-02-16T21:30:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-41314"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00770.html"
}
],
"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-9M5W-7XHR-393X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-13 18:31 – Updated: 2024-12-03 21:31A DLL hijacking vulnerability in AMD μProf could allow an attacker to achieve privilege escalation, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-31348"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-400",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-08-13T17:15:21Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A DLL hijacking vulnerability in AMD \u03bcProf could allow an attacker to achieve privilege escalation, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-9m5w-7xhr-393x",
"modified": "2024-12-03T21:31:21Z",
"published": "2024-08-13T18:31:15Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-31348"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.amd.com/en/corporate/product-security/bulletin/amd-sb-9001"
}
],
"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-9MGG-WW23-JFHC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-21 18:33 – Updated: 2025-05-21 21:31An issue in Blizzard Battle.net v2.40.0.15267 allows attackers to escalate privileges via placing a crafted shell script or executable into the C:\ProgramData directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-27997"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-21T16:15:30Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An issue in Blizzard Battle.net v2.40.0.15267 allows attackers to escalate privileges via placing a crafted shell script or executable into the C:\\ProgramData directory.",
"id": "GHSA-9mgg-ww23-jfhc",
"modified": "2025-05-21T21:31:38Z",
"published": "2025-05-21T18:33:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-27997"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://gist.github.com/sornram9254/4593dd5eb2bcca50d68dc6ac70e40b24"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9MGH-X76Q-2MJ2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:02 – Updated: 2024-04-04 02:42Dell Command Configure versions prior to 4.2.1 contain an uncontrolled search path vulnerability. A locally authenticated malicious user could exploit this vulnerability by creating a symlink to a target file, allowing the attacker to overwrite or corrupt a specified file on the system.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-18575"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-12-06T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Dell Command Configure versions prior to 4.2.1 contain an uncontrolled search path vulnerability. A locally authenticated malicious user could exploit this vulnerability by creating a symlink to a target file, allowing the attacker to overwrite or corrupt a specified file on the system.",
"id": "GHSA-9mgh-x76q-2mj2",
"modified": "2024-04-04T02:42:09Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:02:48Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-18575"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.dell.com/support/article/SLN319715"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-9P2X-2MX9-HP39
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-13 21:30 – Updated: 2025-05-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) RealSense™ SDK software before version 2.56.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-20043"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-13T21:16:04Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) RealSense\u2122 SDK software before version 2.56.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-9p2x-2mx9-hp39",
"modified": "2025-05-13T21:30:55Z",
"published": "2025-05-13T21:30:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20043"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01305.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:P/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-9P85-C2HF-RXR2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-04-04 15:30 – Updated: 2023-04-11 18:30An issue was discovered in Acuant AcuFill SDK before 10.22.02.03. It is used to install drivers from several different vendors. The Gemalto Document Reader child installation process is vulnerable to DLL hijacking, because it attempts to execute (with elevated privileges) multiple non-existent DLLs out of a non-existent standard-user writable location.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-48225"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-04-04T15:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An issue was discovered in Acuant AcuFill SDK before 10.22.02.03. It is used to install drivers from several different vendors. The Gemalto Document Reader child installation process is vulnerable to DLL hijacking, because it attempts to execute (with elevated privileges) multiple non-existent DLLs out of a non-existent standard-user writable location.",
"id": "GHSA-9p85-c2hf-rxr2",
"modified": "2023-04-11T18:30:30Z",
"published": "2023-04-04T15:30:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-48225"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://acuant.com"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://hackandpwn.com/disclosures/CVE-2022-48225.pdf"
}
],
"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-9R4Q-J4Q6-FV33
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-13 21:30 – Updated: 2024-11-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Standard Edition software for Windows before version 23.1.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-38668"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-13T21:15:26Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Standard Edition software for Windows before version 23.1.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-9r4q-j4q6-fv33",
"modified": "2024-11-13T21:30:38Z",
"published": "2024-11-13T21:30:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-38668"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01193.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-9VC7-FVQC-RX92
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 22:01 – Updated: 2022-05-24 22:01NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver, all versions, contains a vulnerability in NVIDIA Control Panel in which it incorrectly loads Windows system DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), which may lead to denial of service or information disclosure through code execution. The attacker requires local system access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-5694"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-11-09T02:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "NVIDIA Windows GPU Display Driver, all versions, contains a vulnerability in NVIDIA Control Panel in which it incorrectly loads Windows system DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), which may lead to denial of service or information disclosure through code execution. The attacker requires local system access.",
"id": "GHSA-9vc7-fvqc-rx92",
"modified": "2022-05-24T22:01:07Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T22:01:07Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5694"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4907"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://safebreach.com/Post/NVIDIA-GPU-Display-Drivers-for-Windows-and-GFE-Software-DLL-Preloading-and-Potential-Abuses-CVE-2019-5694-CVE-2019-5695"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-9VH6-FR62-399G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-02-29 21:30 – Updated: 2024-02-29 21:30Delta Electronics CNCSoft-B DOPSoft prior to v4.0.0.82
insecurely loads libraries, which may allow an attacker to use DLL hijacking and take over the system where the software is installed.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-1595"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-02-29T20:15:41Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Delta Electronics CNCSoft-B DOPSoft prior to v4.0.0.82\n\n insecurely loads libraries, which may allow an attacker to use DLL hijacking and take over the system where the software is installed.\n\n",
"id": "GHSA-9vh6-fr62-399g",
"modified": "2024-02-29T21:30:52Z",
"published": "2024-02-29T21:30:52Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-1595"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-24-053-01"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.