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-PPGQ-QWRP-QPWP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:31 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:31Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application version 5.2 (and earlier) and 2.1 (and earlier) for Windows is affected by an uncontrolled search path vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-24422"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-10-21T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application version 5.2 (and earlier) and 2.1 (and earlier) for Windows is affected by an uncontrolled search path vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.",
"id": "GHSA-ppgq-qwrp-qpwp",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:31:42Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:31:42Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-24422"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/creative-cloud/apsb20-68.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-PPPQ-X5VP-WHW6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-02-24 03:31 – Updated: 2025-02-24 03:31IBM i 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 could allow a user with the capability to compile or restore a program to gain elevated privileges due to an unqualified library call. A malicious actor could cause user-controlled code to run with administrator privilege.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-55898"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-02-24T02:15:31Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "IBM i 7.2, 7.3, 7.4, and 7.5 could allow a user with the capability to compile or restore a program to gain elevated privileges due to an unqualified library call. A malicious actor could cause user-controlled code to run with administrator privilege.",
"id": "GHSA-pppq-x5vp-whw6",
"modified": "2025-02-24T03:31:51Z",
"published": "2025-02-24T03:31:51Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-55898"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.ibm.com/support/pages/node/7183835"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-PPQ4-7PWF-RG3R
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-30 18:31 – Updated: 2025-05-30 18:31HCL Traveler for Microsoft Outlook (HTMO) is susceptible to a COM hijacking vulnerability which could allow an attacker to modify or replace the application with malicious content.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-42191"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-30T16:15:37Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "HCL Traveler for Microsoft Outlook (HTMO) is susceptible to a COM hijacking vulnerability which could allow an attacker to modify or replace the application with malicious content.",
"id": "GHSA-ppq4-7pwf-rg3r",
"modified": "2025-05-30T18:31:15Z",
"published": "2025-05-30T18:31:15Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-42191"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.hcl-software.com/csm?id=kb_article\u0026sysparm_article=KB0120745"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-PRFM-4FP6-F2VG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-22 21:32 – Updated: 2024-11-22 21:32Famatech Advanced IP Scanner Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Famatech Advanced IP Scanner. 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 application's use of Qt. The application loads Qt plugins from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of an administrator. Was ZDI-CAN-20768.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-30376"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-22T20:15:08Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Famatech Advanced IP Scanner Uncontrolled Search Path Element Local Privilege Escalation Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Famatech Advanced IP Scanner. 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 application\u0027s use of Qt. The application loads Qt plugins from an unsecured location. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges and execute arbitrary code in the context of an administrator. Was ZDI-CAN-20768.",
"id": "GHSA-prfm-4fp6-f2vg",
"modified": "2024-11-22T21:32:16Z",
"published": "2024-11-22T21:32:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-30376"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-24-670"
}
],
"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-PRG4-VJ3X-J89V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-05-13 21:30 – Updated: 2025-05-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Arc™ & Iris(R) Xe graphics software before version 32.0.101.6083/32.0.101.5736 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-46895"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-05-13T21:16:01Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) Arc\u2122 \u0026amp; Iris(R) Xe graphics software before version 32.0.101.6083/32.0.101.5736 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-prg4-vj3x-j89v",
"modified": "2025-05-13T21:30:55Z",
"published": "2025-05-13T21:30:55Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-46895"
},
{
"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-PW48-2QX8-7CXX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:07 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:07RSA Identity Governance and Lifecycle, RSA Via Lifecycle and Governance, and RSA IMG releases have an uncontrolled search vulnerability. The installation scripts set an environment variable in an unintended manner. A local authenticated malicious user could trick the root user to run malicious code on the targeted system.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-11049"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-07-11T20:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "RSA Identity Governance and Lifecycle, RSA Via Lifecycle and Governance, and RSA IMG releases have an uncontrolled search vulnerability. The installation scripts set an environment variable in an unintended manner. A local authenticated malicious user could trick the root user to run malicious code on the targeted system.",
"id": "GHSA-pw48-2qx8-7cxx",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:07:24Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:07:24Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-11049"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2018/Jul/23"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/104722"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securitytracker.com/id/1041228"
}
],
"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-PW9R-X35F-XG5M
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-04 00:00 – Updated: 2022-05-12 00:00DLL hijacking vulnerability in Gear IconX PC Manager prior to version 2.1.220405.51 allows attacker to execute arbitrary code. The patch adds proper absolute path to prevent dll hijacking.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-28792"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-05-03T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "DLL hijacking vulnerability in Gear IconX PC Manager prior to version 2.1.220405.51 allows attacker to execute arbitrary code. The patch adds proper absolute path to prevent dll hijacking.",
"id": "GHSA-pw9r-x35f-xg5m",
"modified": "2022-05-12T00:00:29Z",
"published": "2022-05-04T00:00:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-28792"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.samsungmobile.com/serviceWeb.smsb?year=2022\u0026month=5"
}
],
"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-PX53-7QP6-V8P9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-03-18 00:01 – Updated: 2022-03-24 00:00The installer of WPS Office Version 10.8.0.6186 insecurely load VERSION.DLL (or some other DLLs), allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-25969"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-03-17T18:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The installer of WPS Office Version 10.8.0.6186 insecurely load VERSION.DLL (or some other DLLs), allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privilege of the user invoking the installer.",
"id": "GHSA-px53-7qp6-v8p9",
"modified": "2022-03-24T00:00:24Z",
"published": "2022-03-18T00:01:09Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-25969"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN21234459"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.kingsoft.jp/support-info/weakness.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-PXW9-25JJ-HW97
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 17:37 – Updated: 2022-05-24 17:37Untrusted search path vulnerability in self-extracting files created by EpsonNet SetupManager versions 2.2.14 and earlier, and Offirio SynergyWare PrintDirector versions 1.6x/1.6y and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2020-5681"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2020-12-24T02:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in self-extracting files created by EpsonNet SetupManager versions 2.2.14 and earlier, and Offirio SynergyWare PrintDirector versions 1.6x/1.6y and earlier allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-pxw9-25jj-hw97",
"modified": "2022-05-24T17:37:17Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T17:37:17Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-5681"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN94244575/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.epson.jp/support/misc_t/201217_oshirase.htm"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": []
}
GHSA-Q2HM-MP4X-64QG
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-01 03:31 – Updated: 2025-04-01 21:31Linux::Statm::Tiny for Perl before 0.0701 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.
Linux::Statm::Tiny uses Mite to produce the affected code section due to CVE-2025-30672
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-3051"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-01T03:15:18Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Linux::Statm::Tiny for Perl before 0.0701 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\nLinux::Statm::Tiny uses Mite to produce the affected code section due to\u00a0CVE-2025-30672",
"id": "GHSA-q2hm-mp4x-64qg",
"modified": "2025-04-01T21:31:11Z",
"published": "2025-04-01T03:31:33Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-3051"
},
{
"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/release/RRWO/Linux-Statm-Tiny-0.0700/source/lib/Linux/Statm/Tiny/Mite.pm#L82"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://metacpan.org/release/RRWO/Linux-Statm-Tiny-0.0701/changes"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.