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.
1783 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-RV69-975F-QP5X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:05 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:05Untrusted search path vulnerability in The installer of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Modify module for Security Measures tool allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-16177"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-01-09T23:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in The installer of Windows 10 Fall Creators Update Modify module for Security Measures tool allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-rv69-975f-qp5x",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:05:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:05:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-16177"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://f-security.jp/v6/support/information/100193.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN15709478/index.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-RVPX-3MWH-GFP7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-07-15 15:31 – Updated: 2025-07-15 15:31PSEvents.exe in multiple Panda Security products runs hourly with SYSTEM privileges and loads DLL files from a user-writable directory without proper validation. An attacker with low-privileged access who can write DLL files to the monitored directory can achieve arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges. Affected products include Panda Global Protection 2016, Panda Antivirus Pro 2016, Panda Small Business Protection, and Panda Internet Security 2016 (all versions up to 16.1.2).
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-34109"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-07-15T13:15:30Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "PSEvents.exe in multiple Panda Security products runs hourly with SYSTEM privileges and loads DLL files from a user-writable directory without proper validation. An attacker with low-privileged access who can write DLL files to the monitored directory can achieve arbitrary code execution with SYSTEM privileges. Affected products include Panda Global Protection 2016, Panda Antivirus Pro 2016, Panda Small Business Protection, and Panda Internet Security 2016 (all versions up to 16.1.2).",
"id": "GHSA-rvpx-3mwh-gfp7",
"modified": "2025-07-15T15:31:00Z",
"published": "2025-07-15T15:31:00Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-34109"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://raw.githubusercontent.com/rapid7/metasploit-framework/master/modules/exploits/windows/local/panda_psevents.rb"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20160704105329/http://www.pandasecurity.com/uk/support/card?id=100053"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20170415211828/http://www.security-assessment.com/files/documents/advisory/Panda%20Security%20-%20Privilege%20Escalation.pdf"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/40020"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/panda-security-psevents-insecure-dll-loading-privilege-escalation"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"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-RX3V-C929-952G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-06-26 18:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 05:10Vulnerability in Tenable Tenable.Io, Tenable Nessus, Tenable Security Center.This issue affects Tenable.Io: before Plugin Feed ID #202306261202 ; Nessus: before Plugin Feed ID #202306261202 ; Security Center: before Plugin Feed ID #202306261202 .
This vulnerability could allow a malicious actor with sufficient permissions on a scan target to place a binary in a specific filesystem location, and abuse the impacted plugin in order to escalate privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-2005"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-06-26T18:15:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Vulnerability in Tenable Tenable.Io, Tenable Nessus, Tenable Security Center.This issue affects Tenable.Io: before Plugin Feed ID #202306261202 ; Nessus: before Plugin Feed ID #202306261202 ; Security Center: before Plugin Feed ID #202306261202 .\n\nThis vulnerability could allow a malicious actor with sufficient permissions on a scan target to place a binary in a specific filesystem location, and abuse the impacted plugin in order to escalate privileges.\n\n\n",
"id": "GHSA-rx3v-c929-952g",
"modified": "2024-04-04T05:10:36Z",
"published": "2023-06-26T18:30:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-2005"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.tenable.com/security/tns-2023-21"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-RX6Q-CRXJ-C77M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:45 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:45Loading a DLL through an Uncontrolled Search Path Element in the Bosch Video Recording Manager installer up to and including version 3.82.0055 for 3.82, up to and including version 3.81.0064 for 3.81 and 3.71 and older potentially allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim's system. A prerequisite is that the victim is tricked into placing a malicious DLL in the same directory where the installer is started from.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-6786"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-03-25T16:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Loading a DLL through an Uncontrolled Search Path Element in the Bosch Video Recording Manager installer up to and including version 3.82.0055 for 3.82, up to and including version 3.81.0064 for 3.81 and 3.71 and older potentially allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim\u0027s system. A prerequisite is that the victim is tricked into placing a malicious DLL in the same directory where the installer is started from.",
"id": "GHSA-rx6q-crxj-c77m",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:45:21Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:45:21Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-6786"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://psirt.bosch.com/security-advisories/bosch-sa-835563-bt.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-RXP2-C327-Q3WF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-10-15 06:31 – Updated: 2025-10-15 06:31RemoteCall Remote Support Program (for Operator) versions prior to 5.3.0 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-2025-26861"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-10-15T06:15:41Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "RemoteCall Remote Support Program (for Operator) versions prior to 5.3.0 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-rxp2-c327-q3wf",
"modified": "2025-10-15T06:31:10Z",
"published": "2025-10-15T06:31:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-26861"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN22713803"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.remotecall.com/en/support/download"
}
],
"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-RXVP-3CQW-G28M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 18:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 18:30Uncontrolled search path for some System Event Log Viewer Utility software for all versions within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an authenticated user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present without special internal knowledge and requires active user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-31645"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-11-11T17:15:47Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some System Event Log Viewer Utility software for all versions within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with an authenticated user combined with a high complexity attack may enable escalation of privilege. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are present without special internal knowledge and requires active user interaction. The potential vulnerability may impact the confidentiality (high), integrity (high) and availability (high) of the vulnerable system, resulting in subsequent system confidentiality (none), integrity (none) and availability (none) impacts.",
"id": "GHSA-rxvp-3cqw-g28m",
"modified": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-31645"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01380.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-RXXW-Q6VH-R7C8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-02-11 12:30 – Updated: 2025-02-11 12:30A vulnerability has been identified in ModelSim (All versions < V2025.1), Questa (All versions < V2025.1). An example setup script contained in affected applications allows a specific executable file to be loaded from the current working directory. This could allow an authenticated local attacker to inject arbitrary code and escalate privileges in installations where administrators or processes with elevated privileges launch the script from a user-writable directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-53977"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-02-11T11:15:15Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "A vulnerability has been identified in ModelSim (All versions \u003c V2025.1), Questa (All versions \u003c V2025.1). An example setup script contained in affected applications allows a specific executable file to be loaded from the current working directory. This could allow an authenticated local attacker to inject arbitrary code and escalate privileges in installations where administrators or processes with elevated privileges launch the script from a user-writable directory.",
"id": "GHSA-rxxw-q6vh-r7c8",
"modified": "2025-02-11T12:30:54Z",
"published": "2025-02-11T12:30:54Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-53977"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-637914.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: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"
}
]
}
GHSA-V289-WFCX-99V3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-10-09 12:30 – Updated: 2023-10-09 12:30Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Agent (Windows) before build 36497.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-45248"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-10-09T12:15:10Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Agent (Windows) before build 36497.",
"id": "GHSA-v289-wfcx-99v3",
"modified": "2023-10-09T12:30:20Z",
"published": "2023-10-09T12:30:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45248"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-advisory.acronis.com/advisories/SEC-6052"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V28Q-XFVC-8P57
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-04 00:00 – Updated: 2022-03-18 00:01VMware Tools for Windows (11.x.y and 10.x.y prior to 12.0.0) contains an uncontrolled search path vulnerability. A malicious actor with local administrative privileges in the Windows guest OS, where VMware Tools is installed, may be able to execute code with system privileges in the Windows guest OS due to an uncontrolled search path element.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-22943"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-03T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "VMware Tools for Windows (11.x.y and 10.x.y prior to 12.0.0) contains an uncontrolled search path vulnerability. A malicious actor with local administrative privileges in the Windows guest OS, where VMware Tools is installed, may be able to execute code with system privileges in the Windows guest OS due to an uncontrolled search path element.",
"id": "GHSA-v28q-xfvc-8p57",
"modified": "2022-03-18T00:01:30Z",
"published": "2022-03-04T00:00:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-22943"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2022-0007.html"
}
],
"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-V33Q-GRX6-58X9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-11-10 12:01 – Updated: 2022-11-15 19:00An Uncontrolled Search Path Element in Foxit Software released Foxit Reader v11.2.118.51569 allows attackers to escalate privileges when searching for DLL libraries without specifying an absolute path.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-43310"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-11-09T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An Uncontrolled Search Path Element in Foxit Software released Foxit Reader v11.2.118.51569 allows attackers to escalate privileges when searching for DLL libraries without specifying an absolute path.",
"id": "GHSA-v33q-grx6-58x9",
"modified": "2022-11-15T19:00:52Z",
"published": "2022-11-10T12:01:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-43310"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/hxxt9049/futing"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.foxitsoftware.cn/support/security-bulletins.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.foxitsoftware.com/support/security-bulletins.php"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.