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.
1786 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-8GJP-4C89-5FF3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-17 00:31 – Updated: 2024-08-17 00:31** DISPUTED ** A vulnerability has been found in Scooter Software Beyond Compare up to 3.3.5.15075 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality in the library 7zxa.dll. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. Attacking locally is a requirement. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. NOTE: The vendor explains that a system must be breached before exploiting this issue.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-7886"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-08-16T22:15:04Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "** DISPUTED ** A vulnerability has been found in Scooter Software Beyond Compare up to 3.3.5.15075 and classified as critical. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality in the library 7zxa.dll. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. Attacking locally is a requirement. The real existence of this vulnerability is still doubted at the moment. NOTE: The vendor explains that a system must be breached before exploiting this issue.",
"id": "GHSA-8gjp-4c89-5ff3",
"modified": "2024-08-17T00:31:03Z",
"published": "2024-08-17T00:31:03Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-7886"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.274873"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.274873"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.383468"
}
],
"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-8H2P-56W2-962V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 18:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 18:30Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Graphics Software before version 25.22.1502.2 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-2025-31647"
],
"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 Intel(R) Graphics Software before version 25.22.1502.2 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-8h2p-56w2-962v",
"modified": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T18:30:19Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-31647"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01356.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-8H8C-92JM-7X7X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:39 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:39Adobe Captivate 2019 version 11.5.1.499 (and earlier) is affected by an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability that could lead to privilege escalation. An attacker with permissions to write to the file system could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-21011"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-01-13T23:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Adobe Captivate 2019 version 11.5.1.499 (and earlier) is affected by an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability that could lead to privilege escalation. An attacker with permissions to write to the file system could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-8h8c-92jm-7x7x",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:39:22Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:39:22Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21011"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/captivate/apsb21-06.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-8HVJ-85PF-254M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:09 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:09NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows contains a vulnerability in nvidia-smi where an uncontrolled DLL loading path may lead to arbitrary code execution, denial of service, information disclosure, and data tampering.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-1089"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-07-22T05:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "NVIDIA GPU Display Driver for Windows contains a vulnerability in nvidia-smi where an uncontrolled DLL loading path may lead to arbitrary code execution, denial of service, information disclosure, and data tampering.",
"id": "GHSA-8hvj-85pf-254m",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:09:03Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:09:03Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1089"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5211"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-8JV9-7VM9-CFXP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:11 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:11Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.005.20054 (and earlier), 2020.004.30005 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30197 (and earlier) are affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability. An attacker with access to the victim's C:/ folder could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-28636"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-08-20T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Acrobat Reader DC versions 2021.005.20054 (and earlier), 2020.004.30005 (and earlier) and 2017.011.30197 (and earlier) are affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability. An attacker with access to the victim\u0027s C:/ folder could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.",
"id": "GHSA-8jv9-7vm9-cfxp",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:11:46Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:11:46Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-28636"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/acrobat/apsb21-51.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-8M48-F4HJ-956J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-09 00:00 – Updated: 2022-03-21 00:00An installer search patch element vulnerability in Trend Micro Portable Security 3.0 Pro, 3.0 and 2.0 could allow a local attacker to place an arbitrarily generated DLL file in an installer folder to elevate local privileges.
Please note: an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-26319"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-08T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "An installer search patch element vulnerability in Trend Micro Portable Security 3.0 Pro, 3.0 and 2.0 could allow a local attacker to place an arbitrarily generated DLL file in an installer folder to elevate local privileges.\n\nPlease note: an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute high-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-8m48-f4hj-956j",
"modified": "2022-03-21T00:00:28Z",
"published": "2022-03-09T00:00:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26319"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://success.trendmicro.com/solution/000290531"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-8M6X-6FPF-QX8P
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-14 15:31 – Updated: 2024-08-14 15:31Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I219-LM install software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-21769"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-08-14T14:15:15Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Ethernet Connection I219-LM install software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-8m6x-6fpf-qx8p",
"modified": "2024-08-14T15:31:13Z",
"published": "2024-08-14T15:31:13Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-21769"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00918.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: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-8MG3-XPWR-H867
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-12-07 00:00 – Updated: 2022-11-23 03:30An issue was discovered in Kaseya Unitrends Backup Appliance before 10.5.5. The Unitrends Windows agent was vulnerable to DLL injection and binary planting due to insecure default permissions. This allowed privilege escalation from an unprivileged user to SYSTEM.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-43037"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-12-06T04:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An issue was discovered in Kaseya Unitrends Backup Appliance before 10.5.5. The Unitrends Windows agent was vulnerable to DLL injection and binary planting due to insecure default permissions. This allowed privilege escalation from an unprivileged user to SYSTEM.",
"id": "GHSA-8mg3-xpwr-h867",
"modified": "2022-11-23T03:30:22Z",
"published": "2021-12-07T00:00:46Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43037"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpdesk.kaseya.com/hc/en-gb/articles/4412762258961"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cyberonesecurity.com/blog/exploiting-kaseya-unitrends-backup-appliance-part-1"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cyberonesecurity.com/blog/exploiting-kaseya-unitrends-backup-appliance-part-2"
}
],
"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-8MR9-33PR-3V7J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-08-14 15:31 – Updated: 2024-08-14 15:31Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) IPP software before version 2021.11 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-28887"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-08-14T14:15:25Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) IPP software before version 2021.11 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-8mr9-33pr-3v7j",
"modified": "2024-08-14T15:31:16Z",
"published": "2024-08-14T15:31:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28887"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01129.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-8P3F-99H8-4V6P
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-13 21:30 – Updated: 2025-05-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path element for some Intel(R) Network Adapter Driver installers for Windows 11 before version 29.4 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-20108"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-13T21:16:07Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element for some Intel(R) Network Adapter Driver installers for Windows 11 before version 29.4 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-8p3f-99h8-4v6p",
"modified": "2025-05-13T21:30:56Z",
"published": "2025-05-13T21:30:56Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20108"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01293.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: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.