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-5F84-6463-H54P
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-07 03:30 – Updated: 2026-01-07 03:30Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in Altera Quartus Prime Pro
Installer (SFX)
on Windows allows Search Order Hijacking.This issue affects Quartus Prime Pro: from 24.1 through 24.3.1.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-14596"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-07T02:02:59Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerability in Altera Quartus Prime Pro \n\nInstaller (SFX) \n\non Windows allows Search Order Hijacking.This issue affects Quartus Prime Pro: from 24.1 through 24.3.1.",
"id": "GHSA-5f84-6463-h54p",
"modified": "2026-01-07T03:30:26Z",
"published": "2026-01-07T03:30:26Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-14596"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.altera.com/security/security-advisory/asa-0004"
}
],
"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-5FGV-XG7G-3M2V
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-01-26 21:30 – Updated: 2023-02-03 21:30This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Windscribe. 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 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-16859.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2022-41141"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-01-26T18:59:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "This vulnerability allows local attackers to escalate privileges on affected installations of Windscribe. 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 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-16859.",
"id": "GHSA-5fgv-xg7g-3m2v",
"modified": "2023-02-03T21:30:29Z",
"published": "2023-01-26T21:30:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-41141"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://windscribe.com/changelog/windows"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-1300"
}
],
"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-5G9X-J9PV-6G6F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-07-01 00:01 – Updated: 2022-07-10 00:00A vulnerability was found in Viscosity 1.6.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component DLL Handler. The manipulation leads to untrusted search path. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 1.6.8 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-20123"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-06-30T05:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A vulnerability was found in Viscosity 1.6.7. It has been classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component DLL Handler. The manipulation leads to untrusted search path. It is possible to initiate the attack remotely. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used. Upgrading to version 1.6.8 is able to address this issue. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.",
"id": "GHSA-5g9x-j9pv-6g6f",
"modified": "2022-07-10T00:00:47Z",
"published": "2022-07-01T00:01:14Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-20123"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/kacperszurek/exploits/tree/master/Viscosity"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuldb.com/?id.96639"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.sparklabs.com/blog/viscosity-for-mac-windows-version-1-6-8"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://seclists.org/fulldisclosure/2017/Feb/1"
}
],
"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-5GPH-QPG6-5C3P
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-08-08 21:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 06:43An issue in Diebold Nixdorf Vynamic View Console v.5.3.1 and before allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code via not restricting the search path for required DLLs and not verifying the signature.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-36344"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-08-08T20:15:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "An issue in Diebold Nixdorf Vynamic View Console v.5.3.1 and before allows a local attacker to execute arbitrary code via not restricting the search path for required DLLs and not verifying the signature.",
"id": "GHSA-5gph-qpg6-5c3p",
"modified": "2024-04-04T06:43:03Z",
"published": "2023-08-08T21:30:39Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-36344"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://packetstormsecurity.com/files/173990/Diebold-Nixdorf-Vynamic-View-Console-5.3.1-DLL-Hijacking.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.dieboldnixdorf.com/en-us/banking/portfolio/software/view"
}
],
"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-5GXM-MP3J-XHC7
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-05-08 09:31 – Updated: 2026-05-11 21:31RayVentory Scan Engine through 12.6 Update 8 allows attackers to gain privileges if they control the value of the PATH environment variable. NOTE: this is disputed because ability of an attacker to control the environment is a site-specific misconfiguration.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-69599"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-05-08T07:16:28Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "RayVentory Scan Engine through 12.6 Update 8 allows attackers to gain privileges if they control the value of the PATH environment variable. NOTE: this is disputed because ability of an attacker to control the environment is a site-specific misconfiguration.",
"id": "GHSA-5gxm-mp3j-xhc7",
"modified": "2026-05-11T21:31:31Z",
"published": "2026-05-08T09:31:29Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-69599"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/Wise-Security/CVE-2025-69599"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.raynet.de/hc/en-us/articles/19518792826132-RVY200865-RayVentory-12-6"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-5H2M-W4XR-FXPQ
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-13 21:30 – Updated: 2024-11-13 21:30Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Graphics Offline Compiler for OpenCL(TM) Code software for Windows before version 2024.1.0.142, graphics driver 31.0.101.5445 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-34028"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-13T21:15:20Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) Graphics Offline Compiler for OpenCL(TM) Code software for Windows before version 2024.1.0.142, graphics driver 31.0.101.5445 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-5h2m-w4xr-fxpq",
"modified": "2024-11-13T21:30:37Z",
"published": "2024-11-13T21:30:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-34028"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01163.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-5HP5-8CVM-4M2X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:58 – Updated: 2024-04-04 02:11The vulnerability is limited to the installers of Dell Encryption Enterprise versions prior to 10.4.0 and Dell Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise versions prior to 2.4.0. This issue is exploitable only during the installation of the product by an administrator. A local authenticated low privileged user potentially could exploit this vulnerability by staging a malicious DLL in the search path of the installer prior to its execution by a local administrator. This would cause loading of the malicious DLL, which would allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of an administrator.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-3745"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-10-07T19:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "The vulnerability is limited to the installers of Dell Encryption Enterprise versions prior to 10.4.0 and Dell Endpoint Security Suite Enterprise versions prior to 2.4.0. This issue is exploitable only during the installation of the product by an administrator. A local authenticated low privileged user potentially could exploit this vulnerability by staging a malicious DLL in the search path of the installer prior to its execution by a local administrator. This would cause loading of the malicious DLL, which would allow the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of an administrator.",
"id": "GHSA-5hp5-8cvm-4m2x",
"modified": "2024-04-04T02:11:50Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:58:10Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-3745"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.dell.com/support/article/SLN318889"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-5JF9-8F86-JHVW
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-04-07 18:31 – Updated: 2026-04-25 00:30A flaw was found in libssh. This vulnerability allows local man-in-the-middle attacks, security downgrades of SSH (Secure Shell) connections, and manipulation of trusted host information, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of SSH communications via an insecure default configuration on Windows systems where the library automatically loads configuration files from the C:\etc directory, which can be created and modified by unprivileged local users.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-14821"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-04-07T17:16:25Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "A flaw was found in libssh. This vulnerability allows local man-in-the-middle attacks, security downgrades of SSH (Secure Shell) connections, and manipulation of trusted host information, posing a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of SSH communications via an insecure default configuration on Windows systems where the library automatically loads configuration files from the C:\\etc directory, which can be created and modified by unprivileged local users.",
"id": "GHSA-5jf9-8f86-jhvw",
"modified": "2026-04-25T00:30:27Z",
"published": "2026-04-07T18:31:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-14821"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2026:7067"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2025-14821"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=2423148"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.libssh.org/2026/02/10/libssh-0-12-0-and-0-11-4-security-releases"
}
],
"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-5MF7-VVCV-G4PR
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-01-20 18:31 – Updated: 2026-01-20 18:31NVIDIA Nsight Systems for Windows contains a vulnerability in the application’s DLL loading mechanism where an attacker could cause an uncontrolled search path element by exploiting insecure DLL search paths. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service and information disclosure.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-33231"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-01-20T18:16:02Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "NVIDIA Nsight Systems for Windows contains a vulnerability in the application\u2019s DLL loading mechanism where an attacker could cause an uncontrolled search path element by exploiting insecure DLL search paths. A successful exploit of this vulnerability might lead to code execution, escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service and information disclosure.",
"id": "GHSA-5mf7-vvcv-g4pr",
"modified": "2026-01-20T18:31:57Z",
"published": "2026-01-20T18:31:57Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-33231"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5755"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-33231"
}
],
"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-5P88-83GF-RFQ5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-12 03:30 – Updated: 2025-12-12 03:30The System Console Utility for Windows is vulnerable to a DLL planting vulnerability
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-13665"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-12T03:15:51Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "The System Console Utility for Windows is vulnerable to a DLL planting vulnerability",
"id": "GHSA-5p88-83gf-rfq5",
"modified": "2025-12-12T03:30:20Z",
"published": "2025-12-12T03:30:20Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-13665"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.altera.com/security/security-advisory/asa-0002"
}
],
"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.