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.
1894 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-H2QF-X496-GM8Q
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-07 00:00 – Updated: 2022-05-18 00:00A misconfiguration in the node default path allows for local privilege escalation from a lower privileged user to the Splunk user in Splunk Enterprise versions before 8.1.1 on Windows.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-42743"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-05-06T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A misconfiguration in the node default path allows for local privilege escalation from a lower privileged user to the Splunk user in Splunk Enterprise versions before 8.1.1 on Windows.",
"id": "GHSA-h2qf-x496-gm8q",
"modified": "2022-05-18T00:00:37Z",
"published": "2022-05-07T00:00:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-42743"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.splunk.com/en_us/product-security/announcements/svd-2022-0501.html"
}
],
"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-H2V4-HRMF-382J
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-11-11 18:30 – Updated: 2025-11-11 18:30Uncontrolled search path for the Intel(R) System Support Utility before version 4.1.0 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable local code execution. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are not present without special internal knowledge and requires passive 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-2025-24842"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-11-11T17:15:43Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for the Intel(R) System Support Utility before version 4.1.0 within Ring 3: User Applications may allow an escalation of privilege. Unprivileged software adversary with a privileged user combined with a high complexity attack may enable local code execution. This result may potentially occur via local access when attack requirements are not present without special internal knowledge and requires passive 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-h2v4-hrmf-382j",
"modified": "2025-11-11T18:30:18Z",
"published": "2025-11-11T18:30:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-24842"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01360.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: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-H34F-343X-PH3C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-11-21 15:30 – Updated: 2023-11-21 15:30An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability has been found in the Duet Display product, affecting version 2.5.9.1. An attacker could place an arbitrary libusk.dll file in the C:\Users\user\AppData\Local\Microsoft\WindowsApps\ directory, which could lead to the execution and persistence of arbitrary code.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-6235"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-11-21T13:15:07Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability has been found in the Duet Display product, affecting version 2.5.9.1. An attacker could place an arbitrary libusk.dll file in the C:\\Users\\user\\AppData\\Local\\Microsoft\\WindowsApps\\ directory, which could lead to the execution and persistence of arbitrary code.",
"id": "GHSA-h34f-343x-ph3c",
"modified": "2023-11-21T15:30:20Z",
"published": "2023-11-21T15:30:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-6235"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.incibe.es/en/incibe-cert/notices/aviso/arbitrary-code-execution-duet-display"
}
],
"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-H35X-C82G-HXX8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-10-17 12:30 – Updated: 2024-10-17 12:30A vulnerability was found in OpenSight Software FlashFXP 5.4.0.3970. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function in the library libcrypto-1_1.dll of the file FlashFXP.exe. 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. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-10068"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-10-17T11:15:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability was found in OpenSight Software FlashFXP 5.4.0.3970. It has been classified as critical. Affected is an unknown function in the library libcrypto-1_1.dll of the file FlashFXP.exe. 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. The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
"id": "GHSA-h35x-c82g-hxx8",
"modified": "2024-10-17T12:30:51Z",
"published": "2024-10-17T12:30:51Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-10068"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.280716"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.280716"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.419684"
}
],
"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-H3GG-F2JM-62H3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-04-15 12:30 – Updated: 2024-08-08 21:32VT STUDIO Ver.8.32 and earlier contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries. As a result, arbitrary code may be executed with the privileges of the running application.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-28099"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-04-15T11:15:08Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "VT STUDIO Ver.8.32 and earlier contains an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries. As a result, arbitrary code may be executed with the privileges of the running application.",
"id": "GHSA-h3gg-f2jm-62h3",
"modified": "2024-08-08T21:32:00Z",
"published": "2024-04-15T12:30:34Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-28099"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/vu/JVNVU92825069"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.keyence.com/vt_vulnerability240329_en"
}
],
"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-H425-RQXH-H66F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-07-30 03:30 – Updated: 2025-07-30 03:30An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability can lead to local privilege Escalation (LPE) via Insecure Directory Permissions. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of directory permissions. An attacker with local access may exploit this flaw to move and delete arbitrary files, potentially gaining SYSTEM privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-25011"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-07-30T01:15:24Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability can lead to local privilege Escalation (LPE) via Insecure Directory Permissions. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of directory permissions. An attacker with local access may exploit this flaw to move and delete arbitrary files, potentially gaining SYSTEM privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-h425-rqxh-h66f",
"modified": "2025-07-30T03:30:35Z",
"published": "2025-07-30T03:30:35Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-25011"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://discuss.elastic.co/t/beats-windows-installer-9-1-0-security-update-esa-2025-12/380558"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H4QR-8V34-V6VH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-16 21:32 – Updated: 2024-05-16 21:32Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Computing Improvement Program software before version 2.4.0.10654 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-21843"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-16T21:16:05Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Computing Improvement Program software before version 2.4.0.10654 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-h4qr-8v34-v6vh",
"modified": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"published": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-21843"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01059.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-H58Q-P4C8-6JJR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-16 21:32 – Updated: 2024-05-16 21:32Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Inspector software before version 2024.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-22379"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-16T21:16:06Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Inspector software before version 2024.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-h58q-p4c8-6jjr",
"modified": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"published": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-22379"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01043.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-H5FC-V3M2-VPP2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-11-14 21:31 – Updated: 2023-11-14 21:31Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) QAT drivers for Windows - HW Version 2.0 before version 2.0.4 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-28740"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-11-14T19:15:23Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) QAT drivers for Windows - HW Version 2.0 before version 2.0.4 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-h5fc-v3m2-vpp2",
"modified": "2023-11-14T21:31:01Z",
"published": "2023-11-14T21:31:01Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-28740"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00861.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-H6PJ-3JGP-MGR2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-13 21:30 – Updated: 2025-05-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Graphics Driver software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-47800"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-13T21:16:02Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Graphics Driver software may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-h6pj-3jgp-mgr2",
"modified": "2025-05-13T21:30:54Z",
"published": "2025-05-13T21:30:54Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-47800"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01253.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.