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-GQX3-WH79-GF57
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-07 00:30 – Updated: 2023-01-12 21:30Efs Software Easy Chat Server Version 3.1 was discovered to contain a DLL hijacking vulnerability via the component TextShaping.dll. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted DLL.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-44939"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-01-06T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Efs Software Easy Chat Server Version 3.1 was discovered to contain a DLL hijacking vulnerability via the component TextShaping.dll. This vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted DLL.",
"id": "GHSA-gqx3-wh79-gf57",
"modified": "2023-01-12T21:30:24Z",
"published": "2023-01-07T00:30:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-44939"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/RashidKhanPathan/WindowsPrivilegeEscalation/blob/main/DLL%20Hijacking/CVE-2022-44939/Research.txt"
}
],
"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-GRQ9-8QM8-VHJR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-29 03:31 – Updated: 2026-04-08 15:31Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in ICONICS GENESIS64 all versions, Mitsubishi Electric GENESIS64 all versions and Mitsubishi Electric MC Works64 all versions allows a local authenticated attacker to execute a malicious code by storing a specially crafted DLL in a specific folder. This could lead to disclose, tamper with, destroy, or delete information in the affected products, or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on the products.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-9852"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-28T23:15:04Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in ICONICS GENESIS64 all versions, Mitsubishi Electric GENESIS64 all versions and Mitsubishi Electric MC Works64 all versions allows a local authenticated attacker to execute a malicious code by storing a specially crafted DLL in a specific folder. This could lead to disclose, tamper with, destroy, or delete information in the affected products, or cause a denial of service (DoS) condition on the products.",
"id": "GHSA-grq9-8qm8-vhjr",
"modified": "2026-04-08T15:31:42Z",
"published": "2024-11-29T03:31:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9852"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/vu/JVNVU93891820"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-24-338-04"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/en/psirt/vulnerability/pdf/2024-010_en.pdf"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mitsubishielectric.com/psirt/vulnerability/pdf/2024-010_en.pdf"
}
],
"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-GRVJ-7P65-QC92
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-07-30 03:30 – Updated: 2025-07-30 03:30An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability can lead to local privilege Escalation (LPE) via Insecure Directory Permissions. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of directory permissions. An attacker with local access may exploit this flaw to move and delete arbitrary files, potentially gaining SYSTEM privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-0712"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-07-30T01:15:24Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability can lead to local privilege Escalation (LPE) via Insecure Directory Permissions. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of directory permissions. An attacker with local access may exploit this flaw to move and delete arbitrary files, potentially gaining SYSTEM privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-grvj-7p65-qc92",
"modified": "2025-07-30T03:30:35Z",
"published": "2025-07-30T03:30:35Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-0712"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://discuss.elastic.co/t/beats-windows-installer-9-1-0-security-update-esa-2025-12/380558"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-GVGG-M279-XP8X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-06 12:30 – Updated: 2024-10-06 12:30Diebold Nixdorf – CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-45246"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-06T12:15:05Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Diebold Nixdorf \u2013 CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element",
"id": "GHSA-gvgg-m279-xp8x",
"modified": "2024-10-06T12:30:48Z",
"published": "2024-10-06T12:30:48Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-45246"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.gov.il/en/Departments/faq/cve_advisories"
}
],
"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-GVXW-2M7P-WC8H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:04 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:04A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. This requires the user to have the privilege to create files in the Windows root directory or to manipulate key registry values. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.11; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.8; Cortex XDR agent 7.2 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 7.2.3; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.2 without content update release 171 or a later version.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-3041"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-10T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR agent on Windows platforms that enables an authenticated local Windows user to execute programs with SYSTEM privileges. This requires the user to have the privilege to create files in the Windows root directory or to manipulate key registry values. This issue impacts: Cortex XDR agent 5.0 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 5.0.11; Cortex XDR agent 6.1 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 6.1.8; Cortex XDR agent 7.2 versions earlier than Cortex XDR agent 7.2.3; All versions of Cortex XDR agent 7.2 without content update release 171 or a later version.",
"id": "GHSA-gvxw-2m7p-wc8h",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:04:54Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:04:54Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3041"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2021-3041"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-GW28-7FFR-R8WM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-07-15 00:00 – Updated: 2022-07-29 00:00In Sage 300 ERP (formerly accpac) through 6.8.x, the installer configures the C:\Sage\Sage300\Runtime directory to be the first entry in the system-wide PATH environment variable. However, this directory is writable by unprivileged users because the Sage installer fails to set explicit permissions and therefore inherits weak permissions from the C:\ folder. Because entries in the system-wide PATH variable are included in the search order for DLLs, an attacker could perform DLL search-order hijacking to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM. Furthermore, if the Global Search or Web Screens functionality is enabled, then privilege escalation is possible via the GlobalSearchService and Sage.CNA.WindowsService services, again via DLL search-order hijacking because unprivileged users would have modify permissions on the application directory. Note that while older versions of the software default to installing in %PROGRAMFILES(X86)% (which would allow the Sage folder to inherit strong permissions, making the installation not vulnerable), the official Sage 300 installation guides for those versions recommend installing in C:\Sage, which would make the installation vulnerable.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-45492"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-07-14T16:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In Sage 300 ERP (formerly accpac) through 6.8.x, the installer configures the C:\\Sage\\Sage300\\Runtime directory to be the first entry in the system-wide PATH environment variable. However, this directory is writable by unprivileged users because the Sage installer fails to set explicit permissions and therefore inherits weak permissions from the C:\\ folder. Because entries in the system-wide PATH variable are included in the search order for DLLs, an attacker could perform DLL search-order hijacking to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM. Furthermore, if the Global Search or Web Screens functionality is enabled, then privilege escalation is possible via the GlobalSearchService and Sage.CNA.WindowsService services, again via DLL search-order hijacking because unprivileged users would have modify permissions on the application directory. Note that while older versions of the software default to installing in %PROGRAMFILES(X86)% (which would allow the Sage folder to inherit strong permissions, making the installation not vulnerable), the official Sage 300 installation guides for those versions recommend installing in C:\\Sage, which would make the installation vulnerable.",
"id": "GHSA-gw28-7ffr-r8wm",
"modified": "2022-07-29T00:00:18Z",
"published": "2022-07-15T00:00:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-45492"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://controlgap.com/blog?tag=insecurity"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.controlgap.com/blog/sage-300-case-study"
}
],
"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-GW2J-G839-3547
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-09-16 18:31 – Updated: 2024-09-16 18:31Uncontrolled search path element in Intel(R) RAID Web Console software for all versions may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-34153"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-09-16T17:16:06Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in Intel(R) RAID Web Console software for all versions may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-gw2j-g839-3547",
"modified": "2024-09-16T18:31:22Z",
"published": "2024-09-16T18:31:22Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-34153"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00926.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"
}
]
}
GHSA-GW5Q-M62Q-J9VF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:08 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:08The usage of Tomcat in Confluence on the Microsoft Windows operating system before version 7.0.5, and from version 7.1.0 before version 7.1.1 allows local system attackers who have permission to write a DLL file in a directory in the global path environmental variable variable to inject code & escalate their privileges via a DLL hijacking vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-20406"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-02-06T03:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The usage of Tomcat in Confluence on the Microsoft Windows operating system before version 7.0.5, and from version 7.1.0 before version 7.1.1 allows local system attackers who have permission to write a DLL file in a directory in the global path environmental variable variable to inject code \u0026 escalate their privileges via a DLL hijacking vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-gw5q-m62q-j9vf",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:08:09Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:08:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-20406"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/CONFSERVER-59428"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-GW7J-RV4V-WRCJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-04-10 15:30 – Updated: 2024-04-10 15:30Dell Alienware Command Center, versions prior to 6.2.7.0, contain an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability. A local malicious user could potentially inject malicious files in the file search path, leading to system compromise.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-22450"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-04-10T07:15:08Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Dell Alienware Command Center, versions prior to 6.2.7.0, contain an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability. A local malicious user could potentially inject malicious files in the file search path, leading to system compromise.",
"id": "GHSA-gw7j-rv4v-wrcj",
"modified": "2024-04-10T15:30:39Z",
"published": "2024-04-10T15:30:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-22450"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000218222/dsa-2024-016-security-update-for-dell-alienware-command-center-vulnerabilities"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-GWJM-PF8W-MC26
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-08-19 00:00 – Updated: 2022-08-23 00:00Uncontrolled search path element in the Intel(R) Enpirion(R) Digital Power Configurator GUI software, all versions may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-25999"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-08-18T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in the Intel(R) Enpirion(R) Digital Power Configurator GUI software, all versions may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-gwjm-pf8w-mc26",
"modified": "2022-08-23T00:00:18Z",
"published": "2022-08-19T00:00:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-25999"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00672.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"
}
]
}
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.