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.
1862 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-GMXH-7QG6-9XJM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:20 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:20Norton Utilities (prior to 16.0.3.44) may be susceptible to a DLL Preloading vulnerability, which is a type of issue that can occur when an application looks to call a DLL for execution and an attacker provides a malicious DLL to use instead. Depending on how the application is configured, it will generally follow a specific search path to locate the DLL. The vulnerability can be exploited by a simple file write (or potentially an over-write) which results in a foreign DLL running under the context of the application.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-5235"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-08-22T17:29:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Norton Utilities (prior to 16.0.3.44) may be susceptible to a DLL Preloading vulnerability, which is a type of issue that can occur when an application looks to call a DLL for execution and an attacker provides a malicious DLL to use instead. Depending on how the application is configured, it will generally follow a specific search path to locate the DLL. The vulnerability can be exploited by a simple file write (or potentially an over-write) which results in a foreign DLL running under the context of the application.",
"id": "GHSA-gmxh-7qg6-9xjm",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:20:20Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:20:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-5235"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.symantec.com/en_US/article.SYMSA1459.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105099"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-GP43-46Q6-G3R3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-11-21 18:30 – Updated: 2022-11-23 18:30IBM i Access Family 1.1.2 through 1.1.4 and 1.1.4.3 through 1.1.9.0 could allow a local authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by DLL search order hijacking vulnerability. By placing a specially crafted file in a compromised folder, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 236581.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-40746"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-11-21T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "IBM i Access Family 1.1.2 through 1.1.4 and 1.1.4.3 through 1.1.9.0 could allow a local authenticated attacker to execute arbitrary code on the system, caused by DLL search order hijacking vulnerability. By placing a specially crafted file in a compromised folder, an attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code on the system. IBM X-Force ID: 236581.",
"id": "GHSA-gp43-46q6-g3r3",
"modified": "2022-11-23T18:30:28Z",
"published": "2022-11-21T18:30:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-40746"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://exchange.xforce.ibmcloud.com/vulnerabilities/236581"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/6840359"
}
],
"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-GPMP-XP4X-88W7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-04-27 21:30 – Updated: 2023-04-27 21:30Local privilege escalation due to a DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Snap Deploy (Windows) before build 3900.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-2355"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-04-27T19:15:20Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Local privilege escalation due to a DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Snap Deploy (Windows) before build 3900.",
"id": "GHSA-gpmp-xp4x-88w7",
"modified": "2023-04-27T21:30:26Z",
"published": "2023-04-27T21:30:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2355"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-advisory.acronis.com/advisories/SEC-4048"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-GQ9P-Q24V-593H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-11 18:32 – Updated: 2024-10-11 18:32A DLL hijack vulnerability was reported in Lenovo Emulator that could allow a local attacker to execute code with elevated privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-4131"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-11T16:15:14Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A DLL hijack vulnerability was reported in Lenovo Emulator that could allow a local attacker to execute code with elevated privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-gq9p-q24v-593h",
"modified": "2024-10-11T18:32:50Z",
"published": "2024-10-11T18:32:50Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-4131"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://iknow.lenovo.com.cn/detail/423563"
}
],
"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-GQM8-4H35-6WCH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-15 06:31 – Updated: 2025-10-15 06:31RemoteView PC Application Console versions prior to 6.0.2 contain an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability. If a crafted DLL is placed in the same folder with the affected product, it may cause an arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-26859"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-10-15T06:15:39Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "RemoteView PC Application Console versions prior to 6.0.2 contain an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability. If a crafted DLL is placed in the same folder with the affected product, it may cause an arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-gqm8-4h35-6wch",
"modified": "2025-10-15T06:31:09Z",
"published": "2025-10-15T06:31:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-26859"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://help.rview.com/hc/en-us/articles/4420613945875-Notice-of-termination-of-RemoteView-PC-application-console-service"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN22713803"
}
],
"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: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-GQX3-6RGQ-72PG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-07-31 21:32 – Updated: 2024-07-31 21:32A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in IObit DualSafe Password Manager 1.4.0.3. This affects an unknown part in the library RTL120.BPL of the component BPL Handler. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. It is possible to launch the attack on the local host. The identifier VDB-273249 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-7326"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-07-31T21:15:19Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability classified as critical has been found in IObit DualSafe Password Manager 1.4.0.3. This affects an unknown part in the library RTL120.BPL of the component BPL Handler. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. It is possible to launch the attack on the local host. The identifier VDB-273249 was assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
"id": "GHSA-gqx3-6rgq-72pg",
"modified": "2024-07-31T21:32:39Z",
"published": "2024-07-31T21:32:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-7326"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lab52.io/blog/dll-side-loading-through-iobit-against-colombia"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.273249"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.273249"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.378150"
}
],
"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"
},
{
"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-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"
}
]
}
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.