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-8WCR-94HC-4R26
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:42 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:42360 Total Security 9.0.0.1202 before 2017-07-07 allows Privilege Escalation via a Trojan horse Shcore.dll file in any directory in the PATH, as demonstrated by the C:\Python27 directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-12653"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-08-07T18:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "360 Total Security 9.0.0.1202 before 2017-07-07 allows Privilege Escalation via a Trojan horse Shcore.dll file in any directory in the PATH, as demonstrated by the C:\\Python27 directory.",
"id": "GHSA-8wcr-94hc-4r26",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:42:44Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:42:44Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-12653"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://blogs.securiteam.com/index.php/archives/3314#more-3314"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-8X2P-MRRR-2RF4
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-24 00:30 – Updated: 2025-12-24 00:30PDFsam Enhanced Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows phyiscally-present attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of PDFsam Enhanced. An attacker must first obtain the ability to mount a malicious drive onto the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the configuration of OpenSSL. The product loads an OpenSSL configuration file from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-27867.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-14405"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-23T22:15:47Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "PDFsam Enhanced Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows phyiscally-present attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of PDFsam Enhanced. An attacker must first obtain the ability to mount a malicious drive onto the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the configuration of OpenSSL. The product loads an OpenSSL configuration file from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-27867.",
"id": "GHSA-8x2p-mrrr-2rf4",
"modified": "2025-12-24T00:30:14Z",
"published": "2025-12-24T00:30:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-14405"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-1093"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-8XMP-8X79-G842
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 21:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 21:30A vulnerability has been identified in Siemens Software Center (All versions < V3.5), Solid Edge SE2025 (All versions < V225.0 Update 10). The affected application is vulnerable to DLL hijacking. This could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code via placing a crafted DLL file on the system.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-40827"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-11-11T21:15:38Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability has been identified in Siemens Software Center (All versions \u003c V3.5), Solid Edge SE2025 (All versions \u003c V225.0 Update 10). The affected application is vulnerable to DLL hijacking. This could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code via placing a crafted DLL file on the system.",
"id": "GHSA-8xmp-8x79-g842",
"modified": "2025-11-11T21:30:28Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T21:30:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-40827"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-365596.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"
},
{
"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-8XWR-7FM3-XP6F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-23 18:30 – Updated: 2025-04-23 18:30Bdrive NetDrive Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Bdrive NetDrive. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.
The specific flaw exists within the configuration of OpenSSL. The product loads an OpenSSL configuration file from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-25041.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-2768"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-23T17:16:54Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Bdrive NetDrive Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Bdrive NetDrive. An attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability.\n\nThe specific flaw exists within the configuration of OpenSSL. The product loads an OpenSSL configuration file from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of SYSTEM. Was ZDI-CAN-25041.",
"id": "GHSA-8xwr-7fm3-xp6f",
"modified": "2025-04-23T18:30:59Z",
"published": "2025-04-23T18:30:59Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-2768"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-25-182"
}
],
"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-922P-PFV2-32J4
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-09 21:31 – Updated: 2025-04-09 21:31There is a DLL hijacking vulnerability due to an uncontrolled search path that exists in NI LabVIEW when loading NI Error Reporting. This vulnerability may result in arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation requires an attacker to insert a malicious DLL into the uncontrolled search path. This vulnerability affects NI LabVIEW 2025 Q1 and prior versions.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-2629"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-09T19:15:48Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "There is a DLL hijacking vulnerability due to an uncontrolled search path that exists in NI LabVIEW when loading NI Error Reporting. This vulnerability may result in arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation requires an attacker to insert a malicious DLL into the uncontrolled search path. This vulnerability affects NI LabVIEW 2025 Q1 and prior versions.",
"id": "GHSA-922p-pfv2-32j4",
"modified": "2025-04-09T21:31:42Z",
"published": "2025-04-09T21:31:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-2629"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.ni.com/en/support/security/available-critical-and-security-updates-for-ni-software/dll-hijacking-vulnerability-in-ni-labview-when-loading-ni-error-reporting.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"
},
{
"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-9284-WMFV-PJQ2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 01:57 – Updated: 2022-05-17 01:57An Uncontrolled Search Path Element issue was discovered in Solar Controls Heating Control Downloader (HCDownloader) Version 1.0.1.15 and prior. An uncontrolled search path element has been identified, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a target system using a malicious DLL file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-9646"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-08-14T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An Uncontrolled Search Path Element issue was discovered in Solar Controls Heating Control Downloader (HCDownloader) Version 1.0.1.15 and prior. An uncontrolled search path element has been identified, which could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a target system using a malicious DLL file.",
"id": "GHSA-9284-wmfv-pjq2",
"modified": "2022-05-17T01:57:42Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T01:57:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-9646"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ics-cert.us-cert.gov/advisories/ICSA-17-222-02"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100261"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-92G4-6XJF-GVGM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:02 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:02Teradici PCoIP Graphics Agent for Windows prior to 21.03 does not validate NVENC.dll. An attacker could replace the .dll and redirect pixels elsewhere.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-25694"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-05-13T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Teradici PCoIP Graphics Agent for Windows prior to 21.03 does not validate NVENC.dll. An attacker could replace the .dll and redirect pixels elsewhere.",
"id": "GHSA-92g4-6xjf-gvgm",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:02:23Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:02:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-25694"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://advisory.teradici.com/security-advisories/80"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-92G5-JMF9-M2WF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-11-14 21:31 – Updated: 2023-11-14 21:31Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) Server Information Retrieval Utility software before version 16.0.9 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-27513"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-11-14T19:15:21Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) Server Information Retrieval Utility software before version 16.0.9 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-92g5-jmf9-m2wf",
"modified": "2023-11-14T21:31:01Z",
"published": "2023-11-14T21:31:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-27513"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00894.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-92VX-8G27-6PCV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-06-30 00:00 – Updated: 2022-07-09 00:00XLPD v7.0.0094 and below contains an unquoted service path vulnerability which allows local users to launch processes with elevated privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-33035"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-29T13:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "XLPD v7.0.0094 and below contains an unquoted service path vulnerability which allows local users to launch processes with elevated privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-92vx-8g27-6pcv",
"modified": "2022-07-09T00:00:27Z",
"published": "2022-06-30T00:00:36Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-33035"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ycdxsb/Vuln/blob/main/Xlpd-Unquoted-Service-Path/XLpd-Unquoted-Service-Path.md"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.netsarang.com/en/xlpd-update-history"
}
],
"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-9324-P9HX-8H9M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-10-10 00:30 – Updated: 2023-10-10 00:30A vulnerability was found in XINJE XDPPro up to 3.7.17a. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality in the library cfgmgr32.dll. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-241586 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-5463"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-10-09T22:15:12Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability was found in XINJE XDPPro up to 3.7.17a. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality in the library cfgmgr32.dll. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. An attack has to be approached locally. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. VDB-241586 is the identifier assigned to this vulnerability. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
"id": "GHSA-9324-p9hx-8h9m",
"modified": "2023-10-10T00:30:16Z",
"published": "2023-10-10T00:30:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-5463"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1mpRxWOPjxVS980r0qu1IY_Hf0irKO-cu"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.241586"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.241586"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.