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-HFVJ-8H9H-MFFC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:17 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:17In Fazecast jSerialComm, Version 2.2.2 and prior, an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability could allow a malicious DLL file with the same name of any resident DLLs inside the software installation to execute arbitrary code.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-10626"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-05-14T16:15:00Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "In Fazecast jSerialComm, Version 2.2.2 and prior, an uncontrolled search path element vulnerability could allow a malicious DLL file with the same name of any resident DLLs inside the software installation to execute arbitrary code.",
"id": "GHSA-hfvj-8h9h-mffc",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:17:53Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:17:53Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-10626"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.us-cert.gov/ics/advisories/ICSA2012601"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-HG2G-2J5V-39RV
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-12-21 09:30 – Updated: 2023-01-04 03:30Squirrel.Windows is both a toolset and a library that provides installation and update functionality for Windows desktop applications. Installers generated by Squirrel.Windows 2.0.1 and earlier contain 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 privilege of the user invoking the installer.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-46330"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-12-21T09:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Squirrel.Windows is both a toolset and a library that provides installation and update functionality for Windows desktop applications. Installers generated by Squirrel.Windows 2.0.1 and earlier contain 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 privilege of the user invoking the installer.",
"id": "GHSA-hg2g-2j5v-39rv",
"modified": "2023-01-04T03:30:32Z",
"published": "2022-12-21T09:30:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-46330"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Squirrel/Squirrel.Windows/pull/1807"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Squirrel/Squirrel.Windows"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN29902403/index.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"
}
]
}
GHSA-HGC3-HP6X-WPGX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-11-03 17:36 – Updated: 2024-09-04 20:58Potential Impact:
Remote code execution.
Scope of Impact:
Open-source project specific.
Summary Description:
A dependency confusion vulnerability was reported in the Antilles open-source software prior to version 1.0.1 that could allow for remote code execution during installation due to a package listed in requirements.txt not existing in the public package index (PyPi). MITRE classifies this weakness as an Uncontrolled Search Path Element (CWE-427) in which a private package dependency may be replaced by an unauthorized package of the same name published to a well-known public repository such as PyPi. The configuration has been updated to only install components built by Antilles, removing all other public package indexes. Additionally, the antilles-tools dependency has been published to PyPi.
Mitigation Strategy for Customers (what you should do to protect yourself):
Remove previous versions of Antilles as a precautionary measure and Update to version 1.0.1 or later.
Acknowledgement:
The Antilles team thanks Kotko Vladyslav for reporting this issue.
References:
https://github.com/lenovo/Antilles/commit/c7b9c5740908b343aceefe69733d9972e64df0b9
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "PyPI",
"name": "antilles-tools"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.0.1"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-3840"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-11-03T15:04:04Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2021-11-12T22:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "### Potential Impact: \nRemote code execution.\n\n### Scope of Impact: \nOpen-source project specific.\n\n### Summary Description:\nA dependency confusion vulnerability was reported in the Antilles open-source software prior to version 1.0.1 that could allow for remote code execution during installation due to a package listed in requirements.txt not existing in the public package index (PyPi). \nMITRE classifies this weakness as an Uncontrolled Search Path Element (CWE-427) in which a private package dependency may be replaced by an unauthorized package of the same name published to a well-known public repository such as PyPi.\nThe configuration has been updated to only install components built by Antilles, removing all other public package indexes. Additionally, the antilles-tools dependency has been published to PyPi.\n\n### Mitigation Strategy for Customers (what you should do to protect yourself):\nRemove previous versions of Antilles as a precautionary measure and Update to version 1.0.1 or later.\n\n### Acknowledgement:\nThe Antilles team thanks Kotko Vladyslav for reporting this issue.\n\n### References:\nhttps://github.com/lenovo/Antilles/commit/c7b9c5740908b343aceefe69733d9972e64df0b9\n",
"id": "GHSA-hgc3-hp6x-wpgx",
"modified": "2024-09-04T20:58:13Z",
"published": "2021-11-03T17:36:22Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/lenovo/Antilles/security/advisories/GHSA-hgc3-hp6x-wpgx"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-3840"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/lenovo/Antilles/commit/c7b9c5740908b343aceefe69733d9972e64df0b9"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/lenovo/Antilles"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/pypa/advisory-database/tree/main/vulns/antilles-tools/PYSEC-2021-840.yaml"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
},
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
],
"summary": "Antilles Dependency Confusion Vulnerability"
}
GHSA-HGHG-9HCJ-Q4J3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:42 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:42Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) Trace Analyzer and Collector before version 2020 update 3 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-24485"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-02-17T14:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) Trace Analyzer and Collector before version 2020 update 3 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-hghg-9hcj-q4j3",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:42:27Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:42:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-24485"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00440.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00475.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-HGWP-4VP4-QMM2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-05-24 16:56 – Updated: 2023-03-02 21:10In cloudflared versions < 2020.8.1 (corresponding to 0.0.0-20200820025921-9323844ea773 on pkg.go.dev) on Windows, if an administrator has started cloudflared and set it to read configuration files from a certain directory, an unprivileged user can exploit a misconfiguration in order to escalate privileges and execute system-level commands. The misconfiguration was due to the way that cloudflared reads its configuration file. One of the locations that cloudflared reads from (C:\etc) is not a secure by default directory due to the fact that Windows does not enforce access controls on this directory without further controls applied. A malformed config.yaml file can be written by any user. Upon reading this config, cloudflared would output an error message to a log file defined in the malformed config. The user-controlled log file location could be set to a specific location that Windows will execute when any user logs in.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "Go",
"name": "github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.0.0-20200820025921-9323844ea773"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-24356"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-05-24T16:52:03Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2020-10-02T15:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In `cloudflared` versions \u003c 2020.8.1 (corresponding to 0.0.0-20200820025921-9323844ea773 on pkg.go.dev) on Windows, if an administrator has started `cloudflared` and set it to read configuration files from a certain directory, an unprivileged user can exploit a misconfiguration in order to escalate privileges and execute system-level commands. The misconfiguration was due to the way that `cloudflared` reads its configuration file. One of the locations that `cloudflared` reads from (C:\\etc\\) is not a secure by default directory due to the fact that Windows does not enforce access controls on this directory without further controls applied. A malformed config.yaml file can be written by any user. Upon reading this config, `cloudflared` would output an error message to a log file defined in the malformed config. The user-controlled log file location could be set to a specific location that Windows will execute when any user logs in.",
"id": "GHSA-hgwp-4vp4-qmm2",
"modified": "2023-03-02T21:10:45Z",
"published": "2021-05-24T16:56:35Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/security/advisories/GHSA-hgwp-4vp4-qmm2"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-24356"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared/commit/9323844ea773b1444460fa09295ab8c01a88d97e"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/cloudflare/cloudflared"
}
],
"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"
}
],
"summary": "Local Privilege Escalation in cloudflared"
}
GHSA-HH85-F5H8-Q4PF
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-23 09:30 – Updated: 2026-09-23 09:30A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the updater of Foxit PDF Editor/Reader due to unsafe loading of dynamic-link libraries from a user-writable directory during high-privilege operations. A local attacker could exploit this issue to execute code with elevated privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-91803"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-23T08:17:12Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A local privilege escalation vulnerability exists in the updater of Foxit PDF Editor/Reader due to unsafe loading of dynamic-link libraries from a user-writable directory during high-privilege operations. A local attacker could exploit this issue to execute code with elevated privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-hh85-f5h8-q4pf",
"modified": "2026-09-23T09:30:29Z",
"published": "2026-09-23T09:30:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-91803"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.foxit.com/support/security-bulletins.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-HHC7-9JF4-WHGX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-01 03:31 – Updated: 2025-04-01 21:31Sub::HandlesVia for Perl before 0.050002 allows untrusted code from the current working directory ('.') to be loaded similar to CVE-2016-1238.
If an attacker can place a malicious file in current working directory, it may be loaded instead of the intended file, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
Sub::HandlesVia uses Mite to produce the affected code section due to CVE-2025-30672
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-30673"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-01T03:15:16Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Sub::HandlesVia for Perl before 0.050002 allows untrusted code from the current working directory (\u0027.\u0027) to be loaded similar to CVE-2016-1238.\n\nIf an attacker can place a malicious file in current working directory, it may be\u00a0loaded instead of the intended file, potentially leading to arbitrary\u00a0code execution.\n\nSub::HandlesVia uses Mite to produce the affected code section due to\u00a0CVE-2025-30672",
"id": "GHSA-hhc7-9jf4-whgx",
"modified": "2025-04-01T21:31:10Z",
"published": "2025-04-01T03:31:32Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-30673"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://blogs.perl.org/users/todd_rinaldo/2016/11/what-happened-to-dot-in-inc.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://metacpan.org/dist/Sub-HandlesVia/changes#L12"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://metacpan.org/release/TOBYINK/Sub-HandlesVia-0.050001/source/lib/Sub/HandlesVia/Mite.pm#L114"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-HHMJ-6G9R-9VVQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-08-04 21:30 – Updated: 2026-08-04 21:30An uncontrolled search path element in Kiro IDE before version 1.0.228 on Windows might allow a remote unauthenticated actor to execute arbitrary code via a maliciously crafted project directory containing an executable that bypasses workspace trust protections when a local user opens the directory.
To remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version 1.0.228 or higher.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-18656"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-08-04T20:16:50Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path element in Kiro IDE before version 1.0.228 on Windows might allow a remote unauthenticated actor to execute arbitrary code via a maliciously crafted project directory containing an executable that bypasses workspace trust protections when a local user opens the directory.\n\n\n\nTo remediate this issue, users should upgrade to version 1.0.228 or higher.",
"id": "GHSA-hhmj-6g9r-9vvq",
"modified": "2026-08-04T21:30:29Z",
"published": "2026-08-04T21:30:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-18656"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://aws.amazon.com/security/security-bulletins/2026-074-aws"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kiro.dev/changelog/ide/1-0/#patch-1-0-228"
}
],
"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-HHV5-QPMH-PC66
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-23 09:32 – Updated: 2026-04-29 21:31EfficientLab Controlio before v1.3.95 contains a DLL hijacking vulnerability caused by weak folder permissions in the installation directory. A local attacker can place a specially crafted DLL in this directory and achieve arbitrary code execution with highest privileges, because the affected service runs as NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-10549"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-23T07:16:39Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "EfficientLab Controlio before v1.3.95 contains a DLL hijacking vulnerability caused by weak folder permissions in the installation directory. A local attacker can place a specially crafted DLL in this directory and achieve arbitrary code execution with highest privileges, because the affected service runs as NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM.",
"id": "GHSA-hhv5-qpmh-pc66",
"modified": "2026-04-29T21:31:23Z",
"published": "2026-04-23T09:32:56Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-10549"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://kb.controlio.net/hc/en-us/articles/45777908471185-Client-Update-April-15-2026-ver-1-3-95"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://r.sec-consult.com/controlio"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2026/Apr/19"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:H/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:H/A:N",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-HHVV-GX6C-P7JJ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-11-30 15:30 – Updated: 2023-11-30 15:30An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability has been found on 4D and 4D server Windows executables applications, affecting version 19 R8 100218. This vulnerability consists in a DLL hijacking by replacing x64 shfolder.dll in the installation path, causing an arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-4770"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-11-30T14:15:11Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "An uncontrolled search path element vulnerability has been found on 4D and 4D server Windows executables applications, affecting version 19 R8 100218. This vulnerability consists in a DLL hijacking by replacing x64 shfolder.dll in the installation path, causing an arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-hhvv-gx6c-p7jj",
"modified": "2023-11-30T15:30:24Z",
"published": "2023-11-30T15:30:24Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4770"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.incibe.es/en/incibe-cert/notices/aviso/uncontrolled-search-path-element-vulnerability-4d-and-4d-windows-server"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.