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-CQQX-49XV-875H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 18:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 18:30Uncontrolled search path for some Display Virtualization for Windows OS software before version 1797 within Ring 2: Device Drivers 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-2025-20065"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-11-11T17:15:40Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Display Virtualization for Windows OS software before version 1797 within Ring 2: Device Drivers 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-cqqx-49xv-875h",
"modified": "2025-11-11T18:30:17Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T18:30:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20065"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01303.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-CRCR-FW92-82G6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:46 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:46A vulnerability in the dynamic link library (DLL) loading mechanism in Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) for Endpoints Windows Connector, ClamAV for Windows, and Immunet could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a DLL hijacking attack on an affected Windows system. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would need valid credentials on the system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of directory search paths at run time. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by placing a malicious DLL file on an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-1386"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-04-08T04:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in the dynamic link library (DLL) loading mechanism in Cisco Advanced Malware Protection (AMP) for Endpoints Windows Connector, ClamAV for Windows, and Immunet could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a DLL hijacking attack on an affected Windows system. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker would need valid credentials on the system. The vulnerability is due to insufficient validation of directory search paths at run time. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by placing a malicious DLL file on an affected system. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-crcr-fw92-82g6",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:46:50Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:46:50Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1386"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-amp-imm-dll-tu79hvkO"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-CRMF-3VF5-7M36
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-29 06:31 – Updated: 2025-10-29 06:31The installer of WTW EAGLE (for Windows) 3.0.8.0 contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries. As a result, arbitrary code may be executed with the privileges of the running application.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-62776"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-10-29T05:15:37Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The installer of WTW EAGLE (for Windows) 3.0.8.0 contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries. As a result, arbitrary code may be executed with the privileges of the running application.",
"id": "GHSA-crmf-3vf5-7m36",
"modified": "2025-10-29T06:31:14Z",
"published": "2025-10-29T06:31:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-62776"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN23394606"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://wtw.support/wtw/eagle-app-cms-win"
}
],
"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"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/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-CRQV-WQX6-5F5R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-02-29 18:30 – Updated: 2024-02-29 18:30The vulnerability, if exploited, could allow a malicious entity with access to the file system to achieve arbitrary code execution and privilege escalation by tricking AVEVA Edge to load an unsafe DLL.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-6132"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-02-29T18:15:16Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "\nThe vulnerability, if exploited, could allow a malicious entity with access to the file system to achieve arbitrary code execution and privilege escalation by tricking AVEVA Edge to load an unsafe DLL.\n\n",
"id": "GHSA-crqv-wqx6-5f5r",
"modified": "2024-02-29T18:30:59Z",
"published": "2024-02-29T18:30:59Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6132"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.aveva.com/en/support-and-success/cyber-security-updates"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-24-032-03"
}
],
"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-CVCJ-H2FQ-82FW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-10 09:31 – Updated: 2026-04-10 09:31Emocheck insecurely loads Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). If a crafted DLL file is placed to the same directory, an arbitrary code may be executed with the privilege of the user invoking EmoCheck.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-28704"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-10T07:16:21Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Emocheck insecurely loads Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). If a crafted DLL file is placed to the same directory, an arbitrary code may be executed with the privilege of the user invoking EmoCheck.",
"id": "GHSA-cvcj-h2fq-82fw",
"modified": "2026-04-10T09:31:15Z",
"published": "2026-04-10T09:31:15Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-28704"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/JPCERTCC/EmoCheck"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN00263243"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.jpcert.or.jp/press/2026/PR20260410.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"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/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-CXV7-WF98-6539
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-08-11 03:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 06:51Uncontrolled search path for the Intel(R) AI Hackathon software before version 2.0.0 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via network access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-28380"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-08-11T03:15:24Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for the Intel(R) AI Hackathon software before version 2.0.0 may allow an unauthenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via network access.",
"id": "GHSA-cxv7-wf98-6539",
"modified": "2024-04-04T06:51:10Z",
"published": "2023-08-11T03:30:21Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28380"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00877.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-F262-9PC2-JJQ8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-27 06:30 – Updated: 2026-01-27 06:30beat-access for Windows version 3.0.3 and prior contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries. As a result, arbitrary code may be executed with SYSTEM privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-21408"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-27T06:15:59Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "beat-access for Windows version 3.0.3 and prior contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries. As a result, arbitrary code may be executed with SYSTEM privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-f262-9pc2-jjq8",
"modified": "2026-01-27T06:30:17Z",
"published": "2026-01-27T06:30:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-21408"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN03776126"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.fujifilm.com/fbglobal/eng/company/news/notice/2026/0127_announce.html"
}
],
"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"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/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-F2P3-R6H4-XX6J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-06-23 18:31 – Updated: 2026-06-23 18:31Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in ABB Control Builder A, ABB 800xA for Advant Master.
This issue affects Control Builder A: through 1.4/4; 800xA for Advant Master: through 6.0.3-1, through 6.1.1-1, 6.1.1-3, 6.2.0-1.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-13162"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-06-23T17:16:36Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in ABB Control Builder A, ABB 800xA for Advant Master.\n\nThis issue affects Control Builder A: through 1.4/4; 800xA for Advant Master: through 6.0.3-1, through 6.1.1-1, 6.1.1-3, 6.2.0-1.",
"id": "GHSA-f2p3-r6h4-xx6j",
"modified": "2026-06-23T18:31:40Z",
"published": "2026-06-23T18:31:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-13162"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://search.abb.com/library/Download.aspx?DocumentID=7PAA020047\u0026LanguageCode=en\u0026DocumentPartId=\u0026Action=Launch"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/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-F35F-M57H-GMH5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-02-13 00:33 – Updated: 2025-02-13 00:33Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Software before version 23.1.1 Patch 1.01std may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-42405"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-02-12T22:15:38Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Software before version 23.1.1 Patch 1.01std may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-f35f-m57h-gmh5",
"modified": "2025-02-13T00:33:07Z",
"published": "2025-02-13T00:33:07Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-42405"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01231.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-F3M7-Q6H5-6H8Q
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-14 15:31 – Updated: 2024-08-14 15:31Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Trace Analyzer and Collector software before version 2022.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-28172"
],
"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) Trace Analyzer and Collector software before version 2022.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-f3m7-q6h5-6h8q",
"modified": "2024-08-14T15:31:16Z",
"published": "2024-08-14T15:31:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28172"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01117.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.