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-X27V-PQ4M-WCH6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-08 18:34 – Updated: 2025-04-08 18:34Improper access control in Visual Studio allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-29802"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-08T18:16:06Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper access control in Visual Studio allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-x27v-pq4m-wch6",
"modified": "2025-04-08T18:34:57Z",
"published": "2025-04-08T18:34:56Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-29802"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-29802"
}
],
"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-X2J4-RCG2-CV5W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-03-06 00:31 – Updated: 2026-03-06 00:31Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent (Windows) before build 41124.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-11792"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-03-06T00:16:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Protect Cloud Agent (Windows) before build 41124.",
"id": "GHSA-x2j4-rcg2-cv5w",
"modified": "2026-03-06T00:31:34Z",
"published": "2026-03-06T00:31:34Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-11792"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-advisory.acronis.com/advisories/SEC-9439"
}
],
"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:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-X353-4JWX-M25G
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-16 21:31 – Updated: 2024-05-16 21:31Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) CST software before version 2.1.10300 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-40155"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-269",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-16T21:15:54Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) CST software before version 2.1.10300 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-x353-4jwx-m25g",
"modified": "2024-05-16T21:31:59Z",
"published": "2024-05-16T21:31:59Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40155"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01021.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-X3JW-9XF9-4HV3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-23 00:31 – Updated: 2026-04-23 00:31The installers of LiveOn Meet Client for Windows (Downloader5Installer.exe and Downloader5InstallerForAdmin.exe) and the installers of Canon Network Camera Plugin (CanonNWCamPlugin.exe and CanonNWCamPluginForAdmin.exe) insecurely load Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). If a malicious DLL is placed at the same directory, the affected installer may load that DLL and execute its code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-32679"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-23T00:16:45Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The installers of LiveOn Meet Client for Windows (Downloader5Installer.exe and Downloader5InstallerForAdmin.exe) and the installers of Canon Network Camera Plugin (CanonNWCamPlugin.exe and CanonNWCamPluginForAdmin.exe) insecurely load Dynamic Link Libraries (DLLs). If a malicious DLL is placed at the same directory, the affected installer may load that DLL and execute its code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer.",
"id": "GHSA-x3jw-9xf9-4hv3",
"modified": "2026-04-23T00:31:19Z",
"published": "2026-04-23T00:31:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-32679"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN45563482"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://web.liveon.ne.jp/wp-content/uploads/2026/04/JMSSA2026-001.pdf"
}
],
"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: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-X3Q8-X67W-R85C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:06 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:06Adobe After Effects version 18.1 (and earlier) is affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path element vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this to to plant custom binaries and execute them with System permissions. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-28570"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-28T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Adobe After Effects version 18.1 (and earlier) is affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path element vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this to to plant custom binaries and execute them with System permissions. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction.",
"id": "GHSA-x3q8-x67w-r85c",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:06:25Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:06:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28570"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/ee/security/products/after_effects/apsb21-33.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-X4F6-CXP5-XX88
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:39 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:39In EMC VNX2 versions prior to OE for File 8.1.9.211 and VNX1 versions prior to OE for File 7.1.80.8, a local authenticated user can load a maliciously crafted file in the search path which may potentially allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted VNX Control Station system, aka an uncontrolled search path vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-4987"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-06-19T12:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In EMC VNX2 versions prior to OE for File 8.1.9.211 and VNX1 versions prior to OE for File 7.1.80.8, a local authenticated user can load a maliciously crafted file in the search path which may potentially allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted VNX Control Station system, aka an uncontrolled search path vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-x4f6-cxp5-xx88",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:39:37Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:39:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-4987"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/archive/1/540738/30/0/threaded"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99045"
}
],
"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:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-X4GR-W8J3-47XM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-09-10 12:30 – Updated: 2025-09-10 12:30DLL search order hijacking vulnerability in the wave.exe executable for Windows 11, version 1.27.8. Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers with local access to execute arbitrary code by placing an arbitrary file in the 'C:\Users\AppData\Local\Temp' directory, which could lead to arbitrary code execution and persistence. This vulnerability is only replicable in versions of Windows 11 and does not affect earlier versions.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-40979"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-09-10T12:15:33Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "DLL search order hijacking vulnerability in the wave.exe executable for Windows 11, version 1.27.8. Exploitation of this vulnerability could allow attackers with local access to execute arbitrary code by placing an arbitrary file in the \u0027C:\\Users\u003cuser\u003e\\AppData\\Local\\Temp\u0027 directory, which could lead to arbitrary code execution and persistence. This vulnerability is only replicable in versions of Windows 11 and does not affect earlier versions.",
"id": "GHSA-x4gr-w8j3-47xm",
"modified": "2025-09-10T12:30:20Z",
"published": "2025-09-10T12:30:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-40979"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.incibe.es/en/incibe-cert/notices/aviso/dll-search-order-hijack-wave-grandstream-networks"
}
],
"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/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-X53H-2CJP-MWCX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-14 21:34 – Updated: 2025-12-19 15:31Improper DLL loading algorithms in B&R Automation Studio may allow an authenticated local attacker to execute code with elevated privileges.
This issue affects Automation Studio versions before 4.12.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-22280"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-20",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-14T20:15:11Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Improper DLL loading algorithms in B\u0026R Automation Studio may allow an authenticated local attacker to\nexecute code with elevated privileges.\n\nThis issue affects Automation Studio versions before 4.12.",
"id": "GHSA-x53h-2cjp-mwcx",
"modified": "2025-12-19T15:31:16Z",
"published": "2024-05-14T21:34:44Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22280"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.br-automation.com/fileadmin/2021-10_DLL_Hijacking_Vulnerability_in_Automation_Studio-7dd34511.pdf"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:H/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-X543-885P-W95X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:47 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:47In Adam Kropelin adk0212 APC UPS Daemon through 3.14.14, the default installation of APCUPSD allows a local authenticated, but unprivileged, user to run arbitrary code with elevated privileges by replacing the service executable apcupsd.exe with a malicious executable that will run with SYSTEM privileges at startup. This occurs because of "RW NT AUTHORITY\Authenticated Users" permissions for %SYSTEMDRIVE%\apcupsd\bin\apcupsd.exe.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-7884"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-06-16T13:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In Adam Kropelin adk0212 APC UPS Daemon through 3.14.14, the default installation of APCUPSD allows a local authenticated, but unprivileged, user to run arbitrary code with elevated privileges by replacing the service executable apcupsd.exe with a malicious executable that will run with SYSTEM privileges at startup. This occurs because of \"RW NT AUTHORITY\\Authenticated Users\" permissions for %SYSTEMDRIVE%\\apcupsd\\bin\\apcupsd.exe.",
"id": "GHSA-x543-885p-w95x",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:47:12Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:47:12Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-7884"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Jun/20"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/99092"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1038707"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-X5GX-HGG2-539H
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-13 21:30 – Updated: 2024-11-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) oneAPI Math Kernel Library software for Windows before version 2024.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-28950"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-13T21:15:15Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) oneAPI Math Kernel Library software for Windows before version 2024.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-x5gx-hgg2-539h",
"modified": "2024-11-13T21:30:36Z",
"published": "2024-11-13T21:30:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28950"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01155.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"
}
]
}
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.