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.
1896 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
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"
}
]
}
GHSA-H75M-G75V-Q853
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-16 21:32 – Updated: 2024-05-16 21:32Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Standard Edition Design software before version 23.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-21862"
],
"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 in some Intel(R) Quartus(R) Prime Standard Edition Design software before version 23.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-h75m-g75v-q853",
"modified": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"published": "2024-05-16T21:32:02Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-21862"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01055.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-H7GX-VXJ4-MR6X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-11 03:30 – Updated: 2026-04-11 03:30KeePassXC OpenSSL Configuration Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of KeePassXC. 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 configuration from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of KeePassXC when run by a target user on the system. Was ZDI-CAN-29156.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-4158"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-11T01:16:17Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "KeePassXC OpenSSL Configuration Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of KeePassXC. 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 configuration from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of KeePassXC when run by a target user on the system. Was ZDI-CAN-29156.",
"id": "GHSA-h7gx-vxj4-mr6x",
"modified": "2026-04-11T03:30:30Z",
"published": "2026-04-11T03:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/keepassxreboot/keepassxc/security/advisories/GHSA-4gr2-cr97-q9fx"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-4158"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-26-215"
}
],
"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-H7QG-72FG-C6JR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:46 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:46Symantec VIP Access for Desktop prior to 2.2.4 can be susceptible to a DLL Pre-Loading vulnerability. These types of issues occur when an application looks to call a DLL for execution and an attacker provides a malicious DLL to use instead. Depending on how the application is configured, the application will generally follow a specific search path to locate the DLL. The exploitation of the vulnerability manifests as a simple file write (or potentially an over-write) which results in a foreign executable running under the context of the application.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-6329"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-08-21T20:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Symantec VIP Access for Desktop prior to 2.2.4 can be susceptible to a DLL Pre-Loading vulnerability. These types of issues occur when an application looks to call a DLL for execution and an attacker provides a malicious DLL to use instead. Depending on how the application is configured, the application will generally follow a specific search path to locate the DLL. The exploitation of the vulnerability manifests as a simple file write (or potentially an over-write) which results in a foreign executable running under the context of the application.",
"id": "GHSA-h7qg-72fg-c6jr",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:46:29Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:46:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-6329"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.symantec.com/security_response/securityupdates/detail.jsp?fid=security_advisory\u0026pvid=security_advisory\u0026year=\u0026suid=20170821_00"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/100200"
}
],
"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-H89V-75WM-FRQ9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-07-19 00:00 – Updated: 2022-07-28 00:00This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Access 6.5.3 (39313) Agent. 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 Dispatcher service. The service 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-15213.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-34900"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-07-18T15:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Parallels Access 6.5.3 (39313) Agent. 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 Dispatcher service. The service 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-15213.",
"id": "GHSA-h89v-75wm-frq9",
"modified": "2022-07-28T00:00:43Z",
"published": "2022-07-19T00:00:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-34900"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kb.parallels.com/en/129010"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-945"
}
],
"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-H89X-6XRV-PF29
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:47 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:47Adobe Genuine Service version 6.6 (and earlier) is affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path element vulnerability. An authenticated attacker could exploit this to rewrite the file of the administrator, which may lead to elevated permissions. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-9681"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-04-16T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Adobe Genuine Service version 6.6 (and earlier) is affected by an Uncontrolled Search Path element vulnerability. An authenticated attacker could exploit this to rewrite the file of the administrator, which may lead to elevated permissions. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction.",
"id": "GHSA-h89x-6xrv-pf29",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:47:45Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:47:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9681"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/integrity_service/apsb20-42.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-H926-5FMR-P532
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-09-10 21:31 – Updated: 2024-09-10 21:31An uncontrolled search path in the agent of Ivanti EPM before 2022 SU6, or the 2024 September update allows a local authenticated attacker with admin privileges to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-8441"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-09-10T21:15:15Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path in the agent of Ivanti EPM before 2022 SU6, or the 2024 September update allows a local authenticated attacker with admin privileges to escalate their privileges to SYSTEM.",
"id": "GHSA-h926-5fmr-p532",
"modified": "2024-09-10T21:31:40Z",
"published": "2024-09-10T21:31:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-8441"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://forums.ivanti.com/s/article/Security-Advisory-EPM-September-2024-for-EPM-2024-and-EPM-2022"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-H9CR-M3Q7-4HH8
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-09 03:30 – Updated: 2026-09-09 15:35Uncontrolled search path element in CredentialProvider in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 153.0.8010.36 allowed a local attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a local program. (Chromium security severity: Medium)
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-87530"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-09T01:17:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in CredentialProvider in Google Chrome on on Windows prior to 153.0.8010.36 allowed a local attacker to execute arbitrary code outside the sandbox via a local program. (Chromium security severity: Medium)",
"id": "GHSA-h9cr-m3q7-4hh8",
"modified": "2026-09-09T15:35:00Z",
"published": "2026-09-09T03:30:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-87530"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://chromereleases.googleblog.com/2026/09/stable-channel-update-for-desktop_0808145027.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://issues.chromium.org/issues/518081914"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-HF75-XW57-474F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-03-06 18:30 – Updated: 2024-03-06 18:30A vulnerability in the ISE Posture (System Scan) module of Cisco Secure Client for Linux could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device.
This vulnerability is due to the use of an uncontrolled search path element. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by copying a malicious library file to a specific directory in the filesystem and persuading an administrator to restart a specific process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device with root privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-20338"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-03-06T17:15:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in the ISE Posture (System Scan) module of Cisco Secure Client for Linux could allow an authenticated, local attacker to elevate privileges on an affected device.\n\n This vulnerability is due to the use of an uncontrolled search path element. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by copying a malicious library file to a specific directory in the filesystem and persuading an administrator to restart a specific process. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on an affected device with root privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-hf75-xw57-474f",
"modified": "2024-03-06T18:30:37Z",
"published": "2024-03-06T18:30:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-20338"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://sec.cloudapps.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-secure-privesc-sYxQO6ds"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.