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.
1859 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-25M9-7CHX-GP49
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-11-30 21:30 – Updated: 2023-12-06 18:31An Untrusted search path vulnerability in NetEase CloudMusic 2.10.4 for Windows allows local users to gain escalated privileges through the urlmon.dll file in the current working directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-47454"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-11-30T21:15:08Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An Untrusted search path vulnerability in NetEase CloudMusic 2.10.4 for Windows allows local users to gain escalated privileges through the urlmon.dll file in the current working directory.",
"id": "GHSA-25m9-7chx-gp49",
"modified": "2023-12-06T18:31:05Z",
"published": "2023-11-30T21:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-47454"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/xieqiang11/poc-3/tree/main"
}
],
"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-25W4-53F5-6RMR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-02-06 21:30 – Updated: 2023-02-14 18:30Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler before version 2022.2.1 for some Intel(R) oneAPI Toolkits before version 2022.3.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-38136"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-02-06T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler before version 2022.2.1 for some Intel(R) oneAPI Toolkits before version 2022.3.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-25w4-53f5-6rmr",
"modified": "2023-02-14T18:30:20Z",
"published": "2023-02-06T21:30:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-38136"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00773.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-274C-JX98-WHWV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-02 18:30 – Updated: 2025-01-02 18:30Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Protect 16 (Windows) before build 39169.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-55543"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-01-02T16:15:08Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis Cyber Protect 16 (Windows) before build 39169.",
"id": "GHSA-274c-jx98-whwv",
"modified": "2025-01-02T18:30:36Z",
"published": "2025-01-02T18:30:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-55543"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-advisory.acronis.com/advisories/SEC-6418"
}
],
"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-2795-PJW4-5495
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-30 18:32 – Updated: 2025-01-30 18:32A misconfiguration in lmadmin.exe of FlexNet Publisher versions prior to 2024 R1 (11.19.6.0) allows the OpenSSL configuration file to load from a non-existent directory. An unauthorized, locally authenticated user with low privileges can potentially create the directory and load a specially crafted openssl.conf file leading to the execution of a malicious DLL (Dynamic-Link Library) with elevated privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-2658"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-01-30T17:15:17Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A misconfiguration in lmadmin.exe of FlexNet Publisher versions prior to\u00a02024 R1 (11.19.6.0) allows the OpenSSL configuration file to load from a non-existent directory. An unauthorized, locally authenticated user with low privileges can potentially create the directory and load a specially crafted openssl.conf file leading to the execution of a malicious DLL (Dynamic-Link Library) with elevated privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-2795-pjw4-5495",
"modified": "2025-01-30T18:32:08Z",
"published": "2025-01-30T18:32:08Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-2658"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://community.flexera.com/s/article/cve-2024-2658-flexnet-publisher-potential-local-privilege-escalation-issue"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-359"
}
],
"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-2837-V5J7-QWMH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:02 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:02Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in the openssl component as used in Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security allows an attacker to load a third party DLL to elevate privileges. This issue affects Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security versions prior to 6.6.23.329.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-3423"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-18T11:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in the openssl component as used in Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security allows an attacker to load a third party DLL to elevate privileges. This issue affects Bitdefender GravityZone Business Security versions prior to 6.6.23.329.",
"id": "GHSA-2837-v5j7-qwmh",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:02:44Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:02:44Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3423"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.bitdefender.com/support/security-advisories/privilege-escalation-in-bitdefender-gravityzone-business-security-va-9557"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-295V-QQGP-GQVX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:53 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:53Swisscom MySwisscomAssistant 2.17.1.1065 contains a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system. This vulnerability exists due to the way .dll files are loaded. It allows an attacker to load a .dll of the attacker's choosing that could execute arbitrary code without the user's knowledge. The specific flaw exists within the handling of several DLLs (dwmapi.dll, IPHLPAPI.DLL, WindowsCodecs.dll, RpcRtRemote.dll, CRYPTSP.dll, rasadhlp.dll, DNSAPI.dll, ntmarta.dll, netbios.dll, olepro32.dll, security.dll, winhttp.dll, WINSTA.dll) loaded by the MySwisscomAssistant_Setup.exe process.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-6765"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-03-27T17:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Swisscom MySwisscomAssistant 2.17.1.1065 contains a vulnerability that could allow an unauthenticated, remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the targeted system. This vulnerability exists due to the way .dll files are loaded. It allows an attacker to load a .dll of the attacker\u0027s choosing that could execute arbitrary code without the user\u0027s knowledge. The specific flaw exists within the handling of several DLLs (dwmapi.dll, IPHLPAPI.DLL, WindowsCodecs.dll, RpcRtRemote.dll, CRYPTSP.dll, rasadhlp.dll, DNSAPI.dll, ntmarta.dll, netbios.dll, olepro32.dll, security.dll, winhttp.dll, WINSTA.dll) loaded by the MySwisscomAssistant_Setup.exe process.",
"id": "GHSA-295v-qqgp-gqvx",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:53:10Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:53:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-6765"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.swisscom.ch/content/dam/swisscom/de/about/nachhaltigkeit/digitale-schweiz/sicherheit/bug-bounty/files/cve-2018-6765_myswisscomassistant.txt"
}
],
"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-299P-3CM6-P6FG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-16 21:32 – Updated: 2024-05-16 21:32Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software before version 2024.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-21841"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-16T21:16:04Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Distribution for GDB software before version 2024.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-299p-3cm6-p6fg",
"modified": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"published": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-21841"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01042.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-2C72-5X23-MJ4V
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 Monitor Wall installer up to and including version 10.00.0164 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-2020-6789"
],
"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 Monitor Wall installer up to and including version 10.00.0164 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-2c72-5x23-mj4v",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:45:21Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:45:21Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-6789"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://psirt.bosch.com/security-advisories/bosch-sa-835563-bt.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-2CG5-V97F-XQFQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-12-02 00:00 – Updated: 2021-12-03 00:00An unsafe search path vulnerability in FortiClientWindows 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x and FortiClientEMS 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x may allow an attacker to perform a DLL Hijack attack on affected devices via a malicious OpenSSL engine library in the search path.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-32592"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-12-01T12:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An unsafe search path vulnerability in FortiClientWindows 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x and FortiClientEMS 7.0.0, 6.4.6 and below, 6.2.x, 6.0.x may allow an attacker to perform a DLL Hijack attack on affected devices via a malicious OpenSSL engine library in the search path.",
"id": "GHSA-2cg5-v97f-xqfq",
"modified": "2021-12-03T00:00:47Z",
"published": "2021-12-02T00:00:49Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-32592"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://fortiguard.com/advisory/FG-IR-21-088"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-2F29-V4G5-53HV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-02-13 00:33 – Updated: 2025-02-13 00:33Uncontrolled search path for the FPGA Support Package for the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler software for Windows before version 2024.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-39365"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-02-12T22:15:36Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for the FPGA Support Package for the Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler software for Windows before version 2024.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-2f29-v4g5-53hv",
"modified": "2025-02-13T00:33:06Z",
"published": "2025-02-13T00:33:06Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-39365"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01218.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.