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.
1864 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-J3XX-RGWW-Q3QQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:59 – Updated: 2024-04-04 02:34A malicious DLL preload vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClient for Windows 6.2.0 and below allows a privileged attacker to perform arbitrary code execution via forging that DLL.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-6692"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-10-24T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A malicious DLL preload vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClient for Windows 6.2.0 and below allows a privileged attacker to perform arbitrary code execution via forging that DLL.",
"id": "GHSA-j3xx-rgww-q3qq",
"modified": "2024-04-04T02:34:20Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:59:51Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-6692"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fortiguard.com/psirt/FG-IR-19-148"
}
],
"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-J48Q-4C78-RHF9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-31 23:31 – Updated: 2026-03-31 23:31Severity: HIGH
Summary
The Whirlpool hash implementation in openssl_encrypt/modules/registry/hash_registry.py at lines 570-589 uses glob patterns to find .so modules in site-packages and loads the first match via importlib without verifying module integrity.
Affected Code
for site_pkg in site.getsitepackages():
pattern = os.path.join(site_pkg, "whirlpool*py313*.so")
py313_modules = glob.glob(pattern)
if py313_modules:
module_path = py313_modules[0] # Takes first match
loader = ExtensionFileLoader("whirlpool", module_path)
spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location("whirlpool", module_path, loader=loader)
whirlpool_module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)
spec.loader.exec_module(whirlpool_module)
Impact
The glob pattern "whirlpool*py313*.so" is broad and takes the first match without verifying:
- File hash/signature
- File ownership/permissions
- Whether it's a legitimate module
If an attacker can place a malicious .so file matching this pattern in any site-packages directory, it will be loaded and native code executed.
Recommended Fix
- Verify the module's integrity (hash or signature) before loading
- Use a specific filename rather than a glob pattern
- Check file permissions and ownership
Fix
Fixed in commit 963d0d1 on branch releases/1.4.x — added os.path.realpath() to resolve symlinks and validation that found .so files are within known site-packages directories before loading.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "openssl-encrypt"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.4.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-31T23:31:29Z",
"nvd_published_at": null,
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "## Severity: HIGH\n\n### Summary\n\nThe Whirlpool hash implementation in `openssl_encrypt/modules/registry/hash_registry.py` at **lines 570-589** uses glob patterns to find `.so` modules in site-packages and loads the first match via `importlib` without verifying module integrity.\n\n### Affected Code\n\n```python\nfor site_pkg in site.getsitepackages():\n pattern = os.path.join(site_pkg, \"whirlpool*py313*.so\")\n py313_modules = glob.glob(pattern)\n if py313_modules:\n module_path = py313_modules[0] # Takes first match\n loader = ExtensionFileLoader(\"whirlpool\", module_path)\n spec = importlib.util.spec_from_file_location(\"whirlpool\", module_path, loader=loader)\n whirlpool_module = importlib.util.module_from_spec(spec)\n spec.loader.exec_module(whirlpool_module)\n```\n\n### Impact\n\nThe glob pattern `\"whirlpool*py313*.so\"` is broad and takes the first match without verifying:\n- File hash/signature\n- File ownership/permissions\n- Whether it\u0027s a legitimate module\n\nIf an attacker can place a malicious `.so` file matching this pattern in any site-packages directory, it will be loaded and native code executed.\n\n### Recommended Fix\n\n- Verify the module\u0027s integrity (hash or signature) before loading\n- Use a specific filename rather than a glob pattern\n- Check file permissions and ownership\n\n### Fix\n\nFixed in commit `963d0d1` on branch `releases/1.4.x` \u2014 added os.path.realpath() to resolve symlinks and validation that found .so files are within known site-packages directories before loading.",
"id": "GHSA-j48q-4c78-rhf9",
"modified": "2026-03-31T23:31:29Z",
"published": "2026-03-31T23:31:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/security/advisories/GHSA-j48q-4c78-rhf9"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt/commit/963d0d1278b722ea134272f9df65fddcd3e6ab47"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/jahlives/openssl_encrypt"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:N/VI:H/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "openssl-encrypt: Dynamic .so loading for Whirlpool uses broad glob pattern without integrity verification"
}
GHSA-J533-XX2H-C654
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-24 15:30 – Updated: 2025-01-24 15:30DLL hijacking vulnerabilities, caused by an uncontrolled search path in Silicon Labs (8-bit) IDE installer can lead to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution when running the impacted installer.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-9490"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-01-24T15:15:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "DLL hijacking vulnerabilities, caused by an uncontrolled search path in Silicon Labs (8-bit) IDE installer can lead to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution when running the impacted installer.",
"id": "GHSA-j533-xx2h-c654",
"modified": "2025-01-24T15:30:47Z",
"published": "2025-01-24T15:30:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9490"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://community.silabs.com/068Vm00000JUQwd"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J67V-2MW8-JJ8W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:03 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:03Untrusted search path vulnerability in The Installer of Overwolf 2.168.0.n and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-20726"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-24T04:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in The Installer of Overwolf 2.168.0.n and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges and execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-j67v-2mw8-jj8w",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:03:08Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:03:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-20726"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN78254777/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.overwolf.com"
}
],
"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-J69F-CPPG-2JX6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-02-11 18:31 – Updated: 2025-02-11 18:31Visual Studio Code Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-24039"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-02-11T18:15:40Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Visual Studio Code Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability",
"id": "GHSA-j69f-cppg-2jx6",
"modified": "2025-02-11T18:31:41Z",
"published": "2025-02-11T18:31:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-24039"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-24039"
}
],
"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-J6HH-CGVW-J237
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-07 21:31 – Updated: 2025-10-07 21:31In Ankitects Anki before 25.02.5, a crafted shared deck can place a YouTube downloader executable in the media folder, and this is executed for a YouTube link in the deck. The executable name could be youtube-dl.exe or yt-dlp.exe or yt-dlp_x86.exe.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-62185"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-10-07T21:15:38Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "In Ankitects Anki before 25.02.5, a crafted shared deck can place a YouTube downloader executable in the media folder, and this is executed for a YouTube link in the deck. The executable name could be youtube-dl.exe or yt-dlp.exe or yt-dlp_x86.exe.",
"id": "GHSA-j6hh-cgvw-j237",
"modified": "2025-10-07T21:31:08Z",
"published": "2025-10-07T21:31:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-62185"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ankitects/anki/commit/5080451829505842b16d4a50f398ad44560a3e48"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ankitects/anki/commit/6213c9b6f99ebda181004f8915b92fe3618b939"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ankitects/anki/compare/25.02.4...25.02.5"
}
],
"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:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J6P9-88H5-MR34
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-05-10 15:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 03:59Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) DCM software before version 5.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-41998"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-05-10T14:15:22Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) DCM software before version 5.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-j6p9-88h5-mr34",
"modified": "2024-04-04T03:59:56Z",
"published": "2023-05-10T15:30:21Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-41998"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00806.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-J73H-VJRQ-45GF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 01:45 – Updated: 2022-05-14 01:45A DLL hijacking vulnerability exists in Schneider Electric Software Update (SESU), all versions prior to V2.2.0, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system when placing a specific DLL file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-7799"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-11-02T17:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A DLL hijacking vulnerability exists in Schneider Electric Software Update (SESU), all versions prior to V2.2.0, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system when placing a specific DLL file.",
"id": "GHSA-j73h-vjrq-45gf",
"modified": "2022-05-14T01:45:03Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T01:45:03Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-7799"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-18-305-02"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.schneider-electric.com/en/download/document/SEVD-2018-298-01"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/105951"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-J87M-3C97-HHHG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:08 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:08The usage of Tomcat in Jira before version 8.5.2 allows local attackers with permission to write a dll file to a directory in the global path environmental variable can inject code into via a DLL hijacking vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-20400"
],
"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 Jira before version 8.5.2 allows local attackers with permission to write a dll file to a directory in the global path environmental variable can inject code into via a DLL hijacking vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-j87m-3c97-hhhg",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:08:08Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:08:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-20400"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRASERVER-70407"
}
],
"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-J8FW-422F-28H7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-08 06:31 – Updated: 2026-01-08 06:31The installers for multiple products provided by PIONEER CORPORATION contain 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 installer.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-21427"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-08T04:15:56Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The installers for multiple products provided by PIONEER CORPORATION contain 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 installer.",
"id": "GHSA-j8fw-422f-28h7",
"modified": "2026-01-08T06:31:32Z",
"published": "2026-01-08T06:31:32Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-21427"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jpn.pioneer/ja/support/software/stellanova/dac_driver"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN17956874"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.