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-HV4F-C38W-R52W
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:24 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:24Audacity 2.1.2 through 2.3.2 is vulnerable to Dll HIjacking in the avformat-55.dll resulting arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-1000010"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-07-17T13:18:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Audacity 2.1.2 through 2.3.2 is vulnerable to Dll HIjacking in the avformat-55.dll resulting arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-hv4f-c38w-r52w",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:24:42Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:24:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-1000010"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/GitHubAssessments/CVE_Assessments_10_2019"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/140365/Audacity-2.1.2-DLL-Hijacking.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-HVGM-99G5-JWQ5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-12 15:30 – Updated: 2024-11-12 15:30A vulnerability has been identified in Solid Edge SE2024 (All versions < V224.0 Update 9). The affected applications suffer from a DLL hijacking vulnerability. This could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code via placing a crafted DLL file on the system.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-47942"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-12T13:15:11Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability has been identified in Solid Edge SE2024 (All versions \u003c V224.0 Update 9). The affected applications suffer from a DLL hijacking vulnerability. This could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code via placing a crafted DLL file on the system.",
"id": "GHSA-hvgm-99g5-jwq5",
"modified": "2024-11-12T15:30:43Z",
"published": "2024-11-12T15:30:43Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-47942"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-351178.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-HVRX-7H2H-759X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-15 06:30 – Updated: 2026-05-18 15:30A DLL hijacking vulnerability in the AMD Cleanup Utility could allow an attacker to achieve privilege escalation potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-36333"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-05-15T05:16:32Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A DLL hijacking vulnerability in the AMD Cleanup Utility could allow an attacker to achieve privilege escalation potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-hvrx-7h2h-759x",
"modified": "2026-05-18T15:30:37Z",
"published": "2026-05-15T06:30:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-36333"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.amd.com/en/resources/product-security/bulletin/AMD-SB-6027.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"
},
{
"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-HW68-MW93-XGRG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-07-31 21:32 – Updated: 2024-07-31 21:32A vulnerability was found in IObit Driver Booster 11.0.0.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality in the library VCL120.BPL of the component BPL Handler. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. Attacking locally is a requirement. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-273248. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-7325"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-07-31T20:15:07Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability was found in IObit Driver Booster 11.0.0.0. It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality in the library VCL120.BPL of the component BPL Handler. The manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. Attacking locally is a requirement. The identifier of this vulnerability is VDB-273248. NOTE: The vendor was contacted early about this disclosure but did not respond in any way.",
"id": "GHSA-hw68-mw93-xgrg",
"modified": "2024-07-31T21:32:38Z",
"published": "2024-07-31T21:32:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-7325"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?ctiid.273248"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.273248"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?submit.378139"
}
],
"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-HWGC-9P3V-8FFX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 19:04 – Updated: 2022-05-24 19:04A vulnerability in Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop App for Windows, Cisco Webex Meetings Server, Cisco Webex Network Recording Player for Windows, and Cisco Webex Teams for Windows could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a DLL injection attack on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid credentials on the Windows system. This vulnerability is due to incorrect handling of directory paths at run time. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by inserting a configuration file in a specific path in the system, which can cause a malicious DLL file to be loaded when the application starts. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system with the privileges of another user account.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-1536"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2021-06-04T17:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability in Cisco Webex Meetings Desktop App for Windows, Cisco Webex Meetings Server, Cisco Webex Network Recording Player for Windows, and Cisco Webex Teams for Windows could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a DLL injection attack on an affected device. To exploit this vulnerability, the attacker must have valid credentials on the Windows system. This vulnerability is due to incorrect handling of directory paths at run time. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by inserting a configuration file in a specific path in the system, which can cause a malicious DLL file to be loaded when the application starts. A successful exploit could allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system with the privileges of another user account.",
"id": "GHSA-hwgc-9p3v-8ffx",
"modified": "2022-05-24T19:04:04Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T19:04:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-1536"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-webex-dll-inject-XNmcSGTU"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-HXJ2-HJXP-RPJQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-29 15:30 – Updated: 2026-04-29 15:30Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis DeviceLock DLP (Windows) before build 9.0.93212.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-25852"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-29T15:16:05Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Local privilege escalation due to DLL hijacking vulnerability. The following products are affected: Acronis DeviceLock DLP (Windows) before build 9.0.93212.",
"id": "GHSA-hxj2-hjxp-rpjq",
"modified": "2026-04-29T15:30:39Z",
"published": "2026-04-29T15:30:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-25852"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security-advisory.acronis.com/advisories/SEC-7217"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-HXRP-WX99-35HH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-05-16 21:32 – Updated: 2024-05-16 21:32Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) VTune(TM) Profiler software before version 2024.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-45320"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-269",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-05-16T21:15:57Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in some Intel(R) VTune(TM) Profiler software before version 2024.0 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-hxrp-wx99-35hh",
"modified": "2024-05-16T21:32:00Z",
"published": "2024-05-16T21:32:00Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-45320"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01034.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-J299-XG3X-FQHP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-11-27 15:30 – Updated: 2023-11-27 15:30Uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in Plesk Installer affects version 3.27.0.0. A local attacker could execute arbitrary code by injecting DLL files into the same folder where the application is installed, resulting in DLL hijacking in edputil.dll, samlib.dll, urlmon.dll, sspicli.dll, propsys.dll and profapi.dll files.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-4931"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-11-27T14:15:07Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in Plesk Installer affects version 3.27.0.0. A local attacker could execute arbitrary code by injecting DLL files into the same folder where the application is installed, resulting in DLL hijacking in edputil.dll, samlib.dll, urlmon.dll, sspicli.dll, propsys.dll and profapi.dll files.",
"id": "GHSA-j299-xg3x-fqhp",
"modified": "2023-11-27T15:30:55Z",
"published": "2023-11-27T15:30:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-4931"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.plesk.com/hc/en-us/articles/17426121182103"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.incibe.es/en/incibe-cert/notices/aviso/uncontrolled-search-path-element-vulnerability-plesk"
}
],
"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:L",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-J336-JMMP-F6W9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-06 18:30 – Updated: 2026-08-10 18:32Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in WatchGuard Agent on Windows allows Using Malicious Files.This issue affects WatchGuard Agent before 1.25.03.0000.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-6788"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-05-06T16:16:11Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability\u00a0in WatchGuard Agent on Windows allows Using Malicious Files.This issue affects WatchGuard Agent\u00a0before 1.25.03.0000.",
"id": "GHSA-j336-jmmp-f6w9",
"modified": "2026-08-10T18:32:01Z",
"published": "2026-05-06T18:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6788"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://psirt.watchguard.com/CVE-2026-6788"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.watchguard.com/wgrd-psirt/advisory/WGSA-2026-00013"
}
],
"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-J35C-QJXF-46VC
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-01 03:31 – Updated: 2026-04-01 03:31The application's update service, when checking for updates, loads certain system libraries from a search path that includes directories writable by low‑privileged users and is not strictly restricted to trusted system locations. Because these libraries may be resolved and loaded from user‑writable locations, a local attacker can place a malicious library there and have it loaded with SYSTEM privileges, resulting in local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-3775"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-01T02:16:02Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The application\u0027s update service, when checking for updates, loads certain system libraries from a search path that includes directories writable by low\u2011privileged users and is not strictly restricted to trusted system locations. Because these libraries may be resolved and loaded from user\u2011writable locations, a local attacker can place a malicious library there and have it loaded with SYSTEM privileges, resulting in local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-j35c-qjxf-46vc",
"modified": "2026-04-01T03:31:40Z",
"published": "2026-04-01T03:31:40Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-3775"
},
{
"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: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.