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.
1782 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-W62J-XWV3-VH4G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-02-16 21:30 – Updated: 2023-02-28 21:30Uncontrolled search path element in the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler Runtime before version 2022.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-26421"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-02-16T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler Runtime before version 2022.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-w62j-xwv3-vh4g",
"modified": "2023-02-28T21:30:18Z",
"published": "2023-02-16T21:30:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26421"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00674.html"
}
],
"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-W679-V9M8-QPW3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 03:41 – Updated: 2022-05-17 03:41ABB DataManagerPro 1.x before 1.7.1 allows local users to gain privileges by replacing a DLL file in the package directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2016-4526"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2016-09-19T01:59:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "ABB DataManagerPro 1.x before 1.7.1 allows local users to gain privileges by replacing a DLL file in the package directory.",
"id": "GHSA-w679-v9m8-qpw3",
"modified": "2022-05-17T03:41:19Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T03:41:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-4526"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-16-259-02"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://library.e.abb.com/public/93e52dbfd6ab4f64aa435973ccf1b6e2/9ADB005557_ABB_SoftwareVulnerabilityHandlingAdvisory_DMPro.pdf"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/92980"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-W785-44WH-9WR3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-07-28 00:00 – Updated: 2025-04-17 18:31AVEVA Software Platform Common Services (PCS) Portal versions 4.5.2, 4.5.1, 4.5.0, and 4.4.6 are vulnerable to DLL hijacking through an uncontrolled search path element, which may allow an attacker control to one or more locations in the search path.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-38410"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-07-27T21:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "AVEVA Software Platform Common Services (PCS) Portal versions 4.5.2, 4.5.1, 4.5.0, and 4.4.6 are vulnerable to DLL hijacking through an uncontrolled search path element, which may allow an attacker control to one or more locations in the search path.",
"id": "GHSA-w785-44wh-9wr3",
"modified": "2025-04-17T18:31:01Z",
"published": "2022-07-28T00:00:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38410"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.aveva.com/en/support-and-success/cyber-security-updates"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/uscert/ics/advisories/icsa-21-252-01"
}
],
"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-W7HF-VJQ7-J244
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-08-11 03:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 06:50Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) RST software before versions 16.8.5.1014.5, 17.11.3.1010.2, 18.7.6.1011.2 and 19.5.2.1049.5 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-43456"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-08-11T03:15:15Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) RST software before versions 16.8.5.1014.5, 17.11.3.1010.2, 18.7.6.1011.2 and 19.5.2.1049.5 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-w7hf-vjq7-j244",
"modified": "2024-04-04T06:50:16Z",
"published": "2023-08-11T03:30:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-43456"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00795.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-W7W2-5G5H-6FWF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-10 18:30 – Updated: 2025-12-23 15:30MailEnable versions prior to 10.54 contain an unsafe DLL loading vulnerability that can lead to local arbitrary code execution. The MailEnable administrative executable attempts to load MEAIMF.DLL from its installation directory without sufficient integrity validation or a secure search order. A local attacker with write access to that directory can plant a malicious MEAIMF.DLL, which is then loaded when the executable starts, resulting in execution of attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the process.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-34418"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-10T16:16:25Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "MailEnable versions prior to 10.54 contain an unsafe DLL loading vulnerability that can lead to local arbitrary code execution. The MailEnable administrative executable attempts to load MEAIMF.DLL from its installation directory without sufficient integrity validation or a secure search order. A local attacker with write access to that directory can plant a malicious MEAIMF.DLL, which is then loaded when the executable starts, resulting in execution of attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the process.",
"id": "GHSA-w7w2-5g5h-6fwf",
"modified": "2025-12-23T15:30:29Z",
"published": "2025-12-10T18:30:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-34418"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://mailenable.com/Standard-ReleaseNotes.txt"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.mailenable.com"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/mailenable-dll-hijacking-via-unsafe-loading-of-meaimf-dll"
}
],
"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-W82J-W856-P8J6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:22 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:22Affected versions of Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a DLL hijacking vulnerability in Tomcat. The affected versions are before version 8.5.5, and from version 8.6.0 before 8.7.2.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-20419"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-07-03T02:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Affected versions of Atlassian Jira Server and Data Center allow remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a DLL hijacking vulnerability in Tomcat. The affected versions are before version 8.5.5, and from version 8.6.0 before 8.7.2.",
"id": "GHSA-w82j-w856-p8j6",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:22:22Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:22:22Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-20419"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jira.atlassian.com/browse/JRASERVER-70945"
}
],
"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-W84R-7GX4-7V92
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-17 00:01 – Updated: 2022-06-28 00:00A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Python 2.7.13. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component pgAdmin4. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-20052"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-16T07:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability classified as problematic was found in Python 2.7.13. This vulnerability affects unknown code of the component pgAdmin4. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. The attack can be initiated remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.",
"id": "GHSA-w84r-7gx4-7v92",
"modified": "2022-06-28T00:00:49Z",
"published": "2022-06-17T00:01:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-20052"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220804-0005"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.97822"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Feb/92"
}
],
"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-W85P-M37Q-FVFW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-07 09:30 – Updated: 2025-04-07 09:30DLL Search Order Hijacking vulnerability potentially allowed an attacker with administrator privileges to load a malicious dynamic-link library and execute its code.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-11859"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-07T09:15:15Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "DLL Search Order Hijacking vulnerability potentially allowed an attacker with administrator privileges to load a malicious dynamic-link library and execute its code.",
"id": "GHSA-w85p-m37q-fvfw",
"modified": "2025-04-07T09:30:23Z",
"published": "2025-04-07T09:30:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-11859"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.eset.com/en/ca8810-dll-search-order-hijacking-vulnerability-in-eset-products-for-windows-fixed"
}
],
"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:N/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-W876-744C-HF5G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-01-10 18:30 – Updated: 2024-01-10 18:30An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability (DLL hijacking) has been discovered that could allow a locally authenticated adversary to escalate privileges to SYSTEM. Alternatively, they could host a trojanized version of the software and trick victims into downloading and installing their malicious version to gain initial access and code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-29444"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-01-10T17:15:08Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability (DLL hijacking) has been discovered that could allow a locally authenticated adversary to escalate privileges to SYSTEM. Alternatively, they could host a trojanized version of the software and trick victims into downloading and installing their malicious version to gain initial access and code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-w876-744c-hf5g",
"modified": "2024-01-10T18:30:28Z",
"published": "2024-01-10T18:30:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29444"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cisa.gov/news-events/ics-advisories/icsa-23-243-03"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.ptc.com/en/support/article/cs399528"
}
],
"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-W8JF-P253-J3HJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-26 18:31 – Updated: 2026-01-26 18:31Crucial Storage Executive installer versions prior to 11.08.082025.00 contain a DLL preloading vulnerability. During installation, the installer runs with elevated privileges and loads Windows DLLs using an uncontrolled search path, which can cause a malicious DLL placed alongside the installer to be loaded instead of the intended system library. A local attacker who can convince a victim to run the installer from a directory containing the attacker-supplied DLL can achieve arbitrary code execution with administrator privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-71178"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-26T18:16:28Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Crucial Storage Executive installer versions prior to 11.08.082025.00 contain a DLL preloading vulnerability. During installation, the installer runs with elevated privileges and loads Windows DLLs using an uncontrolled search path, which can cause a malicious DLL placed alongside the installer to be loaded instead of the intended system library. A local attacker who can convince a victim to run the installer from a directory containing the attacker-supplied DLL can achieve arbitrary code execution with administrator privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-w8jf-p253-j3hj",
"modified": "2026-01-26T18:31:31Z",
"published": "2026-01-26T18:31:31Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-71178"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://eu.crucial.com/support/storage-executive"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.vulncheck.com/advisories/crucial-storage-executive-installer-dll-preloading-lpe"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:N/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"
}
]
}
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.