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.
1785 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-MXMX-4CJ8-4596
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-12 03:30 – Updated: 2025-04-12 03:30Uncontrolled search path element in Visual Studio Tools for Applications and SQL Server Management Studio allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-29803"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-12T02:15:20Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in Visual Studio Tools for Applications and SQL Server Management Studio allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-mxmx-4cj8-4596",
"modified": "2025-04-12T03:30:30Z",
"published": "2025-04-12T03:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-29803"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-29803"
}
],
"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-P24J-H477-76Q3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-08-25 21:01 – Updated: 2021-09-09 16:57bat on windows before 0.18.2 executes programs named less.exe from the current working directory. This can lead to unintended code execution.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "bat"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.18.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-36753"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-07-19T16:44:50Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2021-07-15T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "bat on windows before 0.18.2 executes programs named less.exe from the current working directory. This can lead to unintended code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-p24j-h477-76q3",
"modified": "2021-09-09T16:57:53Z",
"published": "2021-08-25T21:01:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36753"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat/pull/1724"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat/commit/bf2b2df9c9e218e35e5a38ce3d03cffb7c363956"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat/releases/tag/v0.18.2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0106.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuln.ryotak.me/advisories/53"
}
],
"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"
}
],
"summary": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element in sharkdp/bat"
}
GHSA-P268-FQX2-J4VP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-12 03:30 – Updated: 2025-12-12 03:30The High Level Synthesis Compiler i++ command for Windows is vulnerable to a DLL planting vulnerability
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-13670"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-12T03:15:51Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The High Level Synthesis Compiler i++ command for Windows is vulnerable to a DLL planting vulnerability",
"id": "GHSA-p268-fqx2-j4vp",
"modified": "2025-12-12T03:30:21Z",
"published": "2025-12-12T03:30:21Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-13670"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.altera.com/security/security-advisory/asa-0003"
}
],
"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-P2MV-5R7J-X4HH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-03 21:31 – Updated: 2025-12-03 21:31NVIDIA TAO contains a vulnerability where an attacker may cause a resource to be loaded via an uncontrolled search path. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service, information disclosure.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-33208"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-03T19:15:55Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "NVIDIA TAO contains a vulnerability where an attacker may cause a resource to be loaded via an uncontrolled search path. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service, information disclosure.",
"id": "GHSA-p2mv-5r7j-x4hh",
"modified": "2025-12-03T21:31:04Z",
"published": "2025-12-03T21:31:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-33208"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5730"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-33208"
}
],
"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-P2PJ-JX8F-JW9F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:45 – Updated: 2022-05-24 16:45NVIDIA Windows GPU Display driver software for Windows (all versions) contains a vulnerability in which it incorrectly loads Windows system DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), leading to escalation of privileges through code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-5676"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-05-10T21:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "NVIDIA Windows GPU Display driver software for Windows (all versions) contains a vulnerability in which it incorrectly loads Windows system DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), leading to escalation of privileges through code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-p2pj-jx8f-jw9f",
"modified": "2022-05-24T16:45:28Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:45:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5676"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4797"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4806"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4841"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/LEN-27815"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-P38V-MF5V-FFM4
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:42 – Updated: 2025-04-20 03:47An insecure suid wrapper binary in the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin (aka vagrant-vmware-fusion) 4.0.24 and earlier allows a non-root user to obtain a root shell.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-12579"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-10-19T13:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An insecure suid wrapper binary in the HashiCorp Vagrant VMware Fusion plugin (aka vagrant-vmware-fusion) 4.0.24 and earlier allows a non-root user to obtain a root shell.",
"id": "GHSA-p38v-mf5v-ffm4",
"modified": "2025-04-20T03:47:03Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:42:43Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12579"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://m4.rkw.io/blog/cve201712579-local-root-privesc-in-hashicorp-vagrantvmwarefusion-4024.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/43223"
}
],
"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-P3G6-952Q-P49J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-14 15:31 – Updated: 2024-08-14 15:31Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software before version 2024.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-23491"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-08-14T14:15:19Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software before version 2024.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-p3g6-952q-p49j",
"modified": "2024-08-14T15:31:14Z",
"published": "2024-08-14T15:31:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-23491"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01075.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-P436-GJF2-799P
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-05 00:10 – Updated: 2026-03-31 14:21This issue affects Docker CLI through 29.1.5
Impact
Docker CLI for Windows searches for plugin binaries in C:\ProgramData\Docker\cli-plugins, a directory that does not exist by default. A low-privileged attacker can create this directory and place malicious CLI plugin binaries (docker-compose.exe, docker-buildx.exe, etc.) that are executed when a victim user opens Docker Desktop or invokes Docker CLI plugin features, and allow privilege-escalation if the docker CLI is executed as a privileged user.
This issue affects Docker CLI through v29.1.5 (fixed in v29.2.0). It impacts Windows binaries acting as a CLI plugin manager via the github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager package, which is consumed by downstream projects such as Docker Compose.
Docker Compose became affected starting in v2.31.0, when it incorporated the relevant CLI plugin manager code (see https://github.com/docker/compose/pull/12300), and is fixed in v5.1.0.
This issue does not impact non-Windows binaries or projects that do not use the plugin manager code.
Patches
Fixed version starts with 29.2.0
This issue was fixed in https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713), which removed %PROGRAMDATA%\Docker\cli-plugins from the list of paths used for plugin-discovery on Windows.
Workarounds
None
Resources
- Pull request: "cli-plugins/manager: remove legacy system-wide cli-plugin path" (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713)
- Patch: https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa.patch
Credits
Nitesh Surana (niteshsurana.com) of Trend Research of TrendAI
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/docker/cli"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "19.03.0"
},
{
"fixed": "29.2.0"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-15558"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-03-05T00:10:40Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2026-03-04T17:16:14Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "This issue affects Docker CLI through 29.1.5\n\n### Impact\n\nDocker CLI for Windows searches for plugin binaries in `C:\\ProgramData\\Docker\\cli-plugins`, a directory that does not exist by default. A low-privileged attacker can create this directory and place malicious CLI plugin binaries (docker-compose.exe, docker-buildx.exe, etc.) that are executed when a victim user opens Docker Desktop or invokes Docker CLI plugin features, and allow privilege-escalation if the `docker` CLI is executed as a privileged user.\n\nThis issue affects Docker CLI through v29.1.5 (fixed in v29.2.0). It impacts Windows binaries acting as a CLI plugin manager via the [`github.com/docker/cli/cli-plugins/manager`](https://pkg.go.dev/github.com/docker/cli@v29.1.5+incompatible/cli-plugins/manager) package, which is consumed by downstream projects such as Docker Compose.\n\nDocker Compose became affected starting in v2.31.0, when it incorporated the relevant CLI plugin manager code (see https://github.com/docker/compose/pull/12300), and is fixed in v5.1.0.\n\nThis issue does not impact non-Windows binaries or projects that do not use the plugin manager code.\n\n### Patches\n\nFixed version starts with 29.2.0\n\nThis issue was fixed in https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713), which removed `%PROGRAMDATA%\\Docker\\cli-plugins` from the list of paths used for plugin-discovery on Windows.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nNone\n\n### Resources\n\n- Pull request: \"cli-plugins/manager: remove legacy system-wide cli-plugin path\" (https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713)\n- Patch: https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa.patch\n\n### Credits\n\nNitesh Surana (niteshsurana.com) of Trend Research of TrendAI",
"id": "GHSA-p436-gjf2-799p",
"modified": "2026-03-31T14:21:14Z",
"published": "2026-03-05T00:10:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/docker/cli/security/advisories/GHSA-p436-gjf2-799p"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-15558"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/docker/cli/pull/6713"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/docker/compose/pull/12300"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/docker/cli/commit/13759330b1f7e7cb0d67047ea42c5482548ba7fa"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://docs.docker.com/desktop/release-notes"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/docker/cli"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-CAN-28304"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "Docker CLI Plugins: Uncontrolled Search Path Element Leads to Local Privilege Escalation on Windows"
}
GHSA-P4GX-RQ75-MVFC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-11 21:31 – Updated: 2025-12-11 21:31A potential security vulnerability in Quartus® Prime Standard Edition Design Software may allow escalation of privilege.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-13664"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-11T21:15:46Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A potential security vulnerability in Quartus\u00ae Prime Standard Edition Design Software may allow escalation of privilege.",
"id": "GHSA-p4gx-rq75-mvfc",
"modified": "2025-12-11T21:31:33Z",
"published": "2025-12-11T21:31:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-13664"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.altera.com/security/security-advisory/asa-0002"
}
],
"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-P4QV-CVHX-6GHQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-09-18 12:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 07:43A DLL hijacking vulnerability in Samsung Memory Card & UFD Authentication Utility PC Software before 1.0.1 could allow a local attacker to escalate privileges. (An attacker must already have user privileges on Windows to exploit this vulnerability.)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-41929"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-09-18T12:15:07Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A DLL hijacking vulnerability in Samsung Memory Card \u0026 UFD Authentication Utility PC Software before 1.0.1 could allow a local attacker to escalate privileges. (An attacker must already have user privileges on Windows to exploit this vulnerability.)",
"id": "GHSA-p4qv-cvhx-6ghq",
"modified": "2024-04-04T07:43:10Z",
"published": "2023-09-18T12:30:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41929"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://semiconductor.samsung.com/support/quality-support/product-security-updates"
}
],
"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.