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-G9X4-J57R-Q497
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:20 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:20A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC PCS 7 (All versions), SIMATIC PDM (All versions), SIMATIC STEP 7 V5.X (All versions < V5.6 SP2 HF3), SINAMICS STARTER (containing STEP 7 OEM version) (All versions < V5.4 HF1). A DLL Hijacking vulnerability could allow a local attacker to execute code with elevated privileges. The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with local access to the affected systems. Successful exploitation requires user privileges but no user interaction. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to compromise the availability of the system as well as to have access to confidential information.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-7585"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-06-10T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A vulnerability has been identified in SIMATIC PCS 7 (All versions), SIMATIC PDM (All versions), SIMATIC STEP 7 V5.X (All versions \u003c V5.6 SP2 HF3), SINAMICS STARTER (containing STEP 7 OEM version) (All versions \u003c V5.4 HF1). A DLL Hijacking vulnerability could allow a local attacker to execute code with elevated privileges. The security vulnerability could be exploited by an attacker with local access to the affected systems. Successful exploitation requires user privileges but no user interaction. The vulnerability could allow an attacker to compromise the availability of the system as well as to have access to confidential information.",
"id": "GHSA-g9x4-j57r-q497",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:20:09Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:20:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-7585"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/pdf/ssa-689942.pdf"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://us-cert.cisa.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-161-05"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.us-cert.gov/ics/advisories/icsa-20-161-05"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-GCFC-FJF7-2PJ9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-02-20 18:31 – Updated: 2026-02-27 18:31Uncontrolled Search Path Element in Owl opds 2.2.0.4 allows Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths via a crafted network request.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-26097"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-02-20T17:25:54Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element in Owl opds 2.2.0.4 allows Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths via a crafted network request.",
"id": "GHSA-gcfc-fjf7-2pj9",
"modified": "2026-02-27T18:31:01Z",
"published": "2026-02-20T18:31:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-26097"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.nozominetworks.com/labs/vulnerability-advisories-cve-2026-26097"
}
],
"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:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:H/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-GCV7-3W7R-7V38
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-13 21:30 – Updated: 2024-11-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) VTune(TM) Profiler software before version 2024.2.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-36245"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-13T21:15:22Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) VTune(TM) Profiler software before version 2024.2.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-gcv7-3w7r-7v38",
"modified": "2024-11-13T21:30:37Z",
"published": "2024-11-13T21:30:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-36245"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01187.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:N/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-GFC5-FM98-FG6J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:01 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:01Multiple vulnerabilities in the install, uninstall, and upgrade processes of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows could allow an authenticated, local attacker to hijack DLL or executable files that are used by the application. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device with SYSTEM privileges. To exploit these vulnerabilities, the attacker must have valid credentials on the Windows system. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-1496"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-378",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-06T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Multiple vulnerabilities in the install, uninstall, and upgrade processes of Cisco AnyConnect Secure Mobility Client for Windows could allow an authenticated, local attacker to hijack DLL or executable files that are used by the application. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device with SYSTEM privileges. To exploit these vulnerabilities, the attacker must have valid credentials on the Windows system. For more information about these vulnerabilities, see the Details section of this advisory.",
"id": "GHSA-gfc5-fm98-fg6j",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:01:36Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:01:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1496"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-anyconnect-code-exec-jR3tWTA6"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-GGH9-X24V-VPVF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 18:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 18:30Uncontrolled search path for the Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility before version 8.0.43 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. System 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-2025-32001"
],
"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 Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility before version 8.0.43 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. System 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-ggh9-x24v-vpvf",
"modified": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-32001"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01334.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-GGMV-5GC5-HF2V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-06-06 21:30 – Updated: 2025-06-06 21:30Action1 Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Action1. 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 configuration of OpenSSL. The product loads an OpenSSL configuration file from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-26767.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-5480"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-06-06T19:15:27Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Action1 Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Action1. 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 configuration of OpenSSL. The product loads an OpenSSL configuration file from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-26767.",
"id": "GHSA-ggmv-5gc5-hf2v",
"modified": "2025-06-06T21:30:27Z",
"published": "2025-06-06T21:30:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-5480"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.action1.com/blog/acknowledging-zdi-can-26767-high-severity-vulnerability-in-action1-agent"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-323"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-GGW3-7QWX-V9J9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-09 00:00 – Updated: 2022-03-19 00:01Trend Micro Password Manager (Consumer) installer version 5.0.0.1262 and below is vulnerable to an Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability that could allow an attacker to use a specially crafted file to exploit the vulnerability and escalate local privileges on the affected machine.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-26337"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-08T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Trend Micro Password Manager (Consumer) installer version 5.0.0.1262 and below is vulnerable to an Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability that could allow an attacker to use a specially crafted file to exploit the vulnerability and escalate local privileges on the affected machine.",
"id": "GHSA-ggw3-7qwx-v9j9",
"modified": "2022-03-19T00:01:40Z",
"published": "2022-03-09T00:00:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26337"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpcenter.trendmicro.com/en-us/article/tmka-10954"
}
],
"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-GH84-W4PF-V843
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-02-16 21:30 – Updated: 2023-02-28 21:30Uncontrolled search path element in the Intel(R) Distribution for Python programming language before version 2022.1 for Intel(R) oneAPI Toolkits may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-26032"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-02-16T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in the Intel(R) Distribution for Python programming language before version 2022.1 for Intel(R) oneAPI Toolkits may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-gh84-w4pf-v843",
"modified": "2023-02-28T21:30:18Z",
"published": "2023-02-16T21:30:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26032"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00674.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-GJ25-C67G-2Q9V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-12 00:00 – Updated: 2022-04-20 00:00Uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in Samsung Update prior to version 3.0.77.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code as Samsung Update permission.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-28541"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-04-11T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in Samsung Update prior to version 3.0.77.0 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code as Samsung Update permission.",
"id": "GHSA-gj25-c67g-2q9v",
"modified": "2022-04-20T00:00:58Z",
"published": "2022-04-12T00:00:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-28541"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2022\u0026month=4"
}
],
"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-GJ5X-V4QH-3C2G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:04 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:04Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit Driver Pack software before updated version 1.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-0057"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-09T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) NUC M15 Laptop Kit Driver Pack software before updated version 1.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-gj5x-v4qh-3c2g",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:04:25Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:04:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-0057"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00507.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
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.