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.
1784 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-QH58-9V3J-WCJC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-06-20 12:30 – Updated: 2025-06-20 16:38Mattermost versions 10.5.x <= 10.5.5, 9.11.x <= 9.11.15, 10.8.x <= 10.8.0, 10.7.x <= 10.7.2, 10.6.x <= 10.6.5 fail to sanitize filenames in the archive extractor which allows authenticated users to write files to arbitrary locations on the filesystem via uploading archives with path traversal sequences in filenames, potentially leading to remote code execution. The vulnerability impacts instances where file uploads and document search by content is enabled (FileSettings.EnableFileAttachments = true and FileSettings.ExtractContent = true). These configuration settings are enabled by default.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/mattermost/mattermost-server"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.0.0-20250519205859-65aec10162f6"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/mattermost/mattermost/server/v8"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "8.0.0-20250519205859-65aec10162f6"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 10.5.5"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/mattermost/mattermost/server/v8"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "10.5.0"
},
{
"fixed": "10.5.6"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 9.11.15"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/mattermost/mattermost/server/v8"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "9.11.0"
},
{
"fixed": "9.11.16"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/mattermost/mattermost/server/v8"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "10.8.0"
},
{
"fixed": "10.8.1"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
],
"versions": [
"10.8.0"
]
},
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 10.7.2"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/mattermost/mattermost/server/v8"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "10.7.0"
},
{
"fixed": "10.7.3"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
},
{
"database_specific": {
"last_known_affected_version_range": "\u003c= 10.6.5"
},
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/mattermost/mattermost/server/v8"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "10.6.0"
},
{
"fixed": "10.6.6"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-4981"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2025-06-20T16:38:01Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2025-06-20T11:15:20Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "Mattermost versions 10.5.x \u003c= 10.5.5, 9.11.x \u003c= 9.11.15, 10.8.x \u003c= 10.8.0, 10.7.x \u003c= 10.7.2, 10.6.x \u003c= 10.6.5 fail to sanitize filenames in the archive extractor which allows authenticated users to write files to arbitrary locations on the filesystem via uploading archives with path traversal sequences in filenames, potentially leading to remote code execution. The vulnerability impacts instances where file uploads and document search by content is enabled (FileSettings.EnableFileAttachments = true and FileSettings.ExtractContent = true). These configuration settings are enabled by default.",
"id": "GHSA-qh58-9v3j-wcjc",
"modified": "2025-06-20T16:38:01Z",
"published": "2025-06-20T12:30:53Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-4981"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/mattermost/mattermost/commit/65aec10162f612d98edf91cc66bf7e781868448b"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/mattermost/mattermost"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://mattermost.com/security-updates"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
],
"summary": "Mattermost allows authenticated users to write files to arbitrary locations"
}
GHSA-QJ63-C77F-88GH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:22 – Updated: 2023-01-30 18:30When the Windows DLL "webauthn.dll" was missing from the Operating System, and a malicious one was placed in a folder in the user's %PATH%, Firefox may have loaded the DLL, leading to arbitrary code execution. Note: This issue only affects the Windows operating system; other operating systems are unaffected. This vulnerability affects Firefox < 78.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-12423"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-07-09T15:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "When the Windows DLL \"webauthn.dll\" was missing from the Operating System, and a malicious one was placed in a folder in the user\u0027s %PATH%, Firefox may have loaded the DLL, leading to arbitrary code execution. *Note: This issue only affects the Windows operating system; other operating systems are unaffected.* This vulnerability affects Firefox \u003c 78.",
"id": "GHSA-qj63-c77f-88gh",
"modified": "2023-01-30T18:30:27Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:22:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-12423"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.mozilla.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1642400"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mozilla.org/security/advisories/mfsa2020-24"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-07/msg00027.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-07/msg00049.html"
}
],
"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-QJH4-6JQF-7749
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-02-12 00:00 – Updated: 2023-08-08 15:31The LSP (Language Server Protocol) plugin in KDE Kate before 21.12.2 and KTextEditor before 5.91.0 tries to execute the associated LSP server binary when opening a file of a given type. If this binary is absent from the PATH, it will try running the LSP server binary in the directory of the file that was just opened (due to a misunderstanding of the QProcess API, that was never intended). This can be an untrusted directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-23853"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-20",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-02-11T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The LSP (Language Server Protocol) plugin in KDE Kate before 21.12.2 and KTextEditor before 5.91.0 tries to execute the associated LSP server binary when opening a file of a given type. If this binary is absent from the PATH, it will try running the LSP server binary in the directory of the file that was just opened (due to a misunderstanding of the QProcess API, that was never intended). This can be an untrusted directory.",
"id": "GHSA-qjh4-6jqf-7749",
"modified": "2023-08-08T15:31:43Z",
"published": "2022-02-12T00:00:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-23853"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://apps.kde.org/kate"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kde.org/info/security/advisory-20220131-1.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202401-21"
}
],
"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-QM5V-GGQM-6GPG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-12-04 15:31 – Updated: 2023-12-07 21:31EzViz Studio v2.2.0 is vulnerable to DLL hijacking.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-41613"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-12-04T14:15:07Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "EzViz Studio v2.2.0 is vulnerable to DLL hijacking.",
"id": "GHSA-qm5v-ggqm-6gpg",
"modified": "2023-12-07T21:31:10Z",
"published": "2023-12-04T15:31:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-41613"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/175684/EzViz-Studio-2.2.0-DLL-Hijacking.html"
}
],
"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-QMG2-53H9-6G7H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-06-06 18:30 – Updated: 2024-06-06 18:30Luxion KeyShot BIP File Parsing Uncontrolled Search Path Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Luxion KeyShot. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of BIP files. The issue results from loading a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-22738.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-5509"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-06-06T18:15:22Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Luxion KeyShot BIP File Parsing Uncontrolled Search Path Element Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Luxion KeyShot. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the parsing of BIP files. The issue results from loading a library from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-22738.",
"id": "GHSA-qmg2-53h9-6g7h",
"modified": "2024-06-06T18:30:58Z",
"published": "2024-06-06T18:30:58Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-5509"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.keyshot.com/csirt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-540"
}
],
"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-QMP3-M8XR-7XGG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:49 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:49A DLL injection vulnerability in the Intel IoT Developers Kit 4.0 installer may allow an authenticated user to potentially escalate privileges using file modification via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-12163"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-09-12T19:29:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A DLL injection vulnerability in the Intel IoT Developers Kit 4.0 installer may allow an authenticated user to potentially escalate privileges using file modification via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-qmp3-m8xr-7xgg",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:49:29Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:49:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-12163"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00173.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-QMP9-38CM-QHWR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-17 12:30 – Updated: 2024-10-17 12:30Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Files (Windows) before build 9.0.0x24.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-49391"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-17T10:15:04Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Files (Windows) before build 9.0.0x24.",
"id": "GHSA-qmp9-38cm-qhwr",
"modified": "2024-10-17T12:30:51Z",
"published": "2024-10-17T12:30:51Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49391"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-advisory.acronis.com/advisories/SEC-7220"
}
],
"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-QMPF-GFV7-WR73
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-28 00:00 – Updated: 2022-06-09 00:00EOL Product CVE - Installer of Trend Micro Password Manager (Consumer) versions 3.7.0.1223 and below provided by Trend Micro Incorporated contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries (CWE-427).
Please note that this was reported on an EOL version of the product, and users are advised to upgrade to the latest supported version (5.x).
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-28394"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-05-27T00:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "EOL Product CVE - Installer of Trend Micro Password Manager (Consumer) versions 3.7.0.1223 and below provided by Trend Micro Incorporated contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries (CWE-427).\n\nPlease note that this was reported on an EOL version of the product, and users are advised to upgrade to the latest supported version (5.x).",
"id": "GHSA-qmpf-gfv7-wr73",
"modified": "2022-06-09T00:00:21Z",
"published": "2022-05-28T00:00:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-28394"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpcenter.trendmicro.com/ja-jp/article/TMKA-10977"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN60037444"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/jp/JVN60037444"
}
],
"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-QMVF-M2CM-GM9V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:16 – Updated: 2024-04-04 02:50Improper Input Validation in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a local, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code with SYSTEM privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-5740"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-20",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-04-22T16:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper Input Validation in Plex Media Server on Windows allows a local, unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary Python code with SYSTEM privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-qmvf-m2cm-gm9v",
"modified": "2024-04-04T02:50:02Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:16:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5740"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.tenable.com/security/research/tra-2020-25"
}
],
"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-QPGX-VHR9-CWJ5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-15 15:31 – Updated: 2026-04-15 15:31A potential DLL hijacking vulnerability was reported in Lenovo Service Bridge that, under certain conditions, could allow a local authenticated user to execute code with elevated privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-1636"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-15T13:16:24Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A potential DLL hijacking vulnerability was reported in Lenovo Service Bridge that, under certain conditions, could allow a local authenticated user to execute code with elevated privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-qpgx-vhr9-cwj5",
"modified": "2026-04-15T15:31:42Z",
"published": "2026-04-15T15:31:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-1636"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/LEN-211071"
}
],
"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:L/AT:P/PR:L/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.