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.
1874 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-MRCH-6G3F-VM3C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-01-24 15:30 – Updated: 2025-01-24 15:30DLL hijacking vulnerabilities, caused by an uncontrolled search path in Configuration Wizard 2 installer can lead to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution when running the impacted installer.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-9491"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-01-24T15:15:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "DLL hijacking vulnerabilities, caused by an uncontrolled search path in Configuration Wizard 2 installer can lead to privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution when running the impacted installer.",
"id": "GHSA-mrch-6g3f-vm3c",
"modified": "2025-01-24T15:30:47Z",
"published": "2025-01-24T15:30:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-9491"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://community.silabs.com/068Vm00000JUQwd"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MRQJ-9348-X8H5
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-05-09 03:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 03:55CyberGhostVPN Windows Client before v8.3.10.10015 was discovered to contain a DLL injection vulnerability via the component Dashboard.exe.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-30237"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-05-09T03:15:09Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "CyberGhostVPN Windows Client before v8.3.10.10015 was discovered to contain a DLL injection vulnerability via the component Dashboard.exe.",
"id": "GHSA-mrqj-9348-x8h5",
"modified": "2024-04-04T03:55:09Z",
"published": "2023-05-09T03:30:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-30237"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/77.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.pentestpartners.com/security-blog/bullied-by-bugcrowd-over-kape-cyberghost-disclosure"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://cyberghostvpn.com"
}
],
"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-MV74-337C-M5MH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-02-11 00:00 – Updated: 2025-05-05 18:31Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) GPA software before version 21.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-33101"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2022-02-09T23:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path in the Intel(R) GPA software before version 21.2 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-mv74-337c-m5mh",
"modified": "2025-05-05T18:31:31Z",
"published": "2022-02-11T00:00:56Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-33101"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-00574.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"
}
]
}
GHSA-MWR4-HJV7-WJRH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2023-08-30 18:30 – Updated: 2024-04-04 07:17In Splunk Enterprise versions earlier than 8.2.12, 9.0.6, and 9.1.1, a dynamic link library (DLL) that ships with Splunk Enterprise references an insecure path for the OPENSSLDIR build definition. An attacker can abuse this reference and subsequently install malicious code to achieve privilege escalation on the Windows machine.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2023-40596"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427",
"CWE-665"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2023-08-30T17:15:10Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "In Splunk Enterprise versions earlier than 8.2.12, 9.0.6, and 9.1.1, a dynamic link library (DLL) that ships with Splunk Enterprise references an insecure path for the OPENSSLDIR build definition. An attacker can abuse this reference and subsequently install malicious code to achieve privilege escalation on the Windows machine.",
"id": "GHSA-mwr4-hjv7-wjrh",
"modified": "2024-04-04T07:17:56Z",
"published": "2023-08-30T18:30:23Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-40596"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://advisory.splunk.com/advisories/SVD-2023-0805"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-MWRR-XR32-RQ6C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-08-12 18:31 – Updated: 2025-08-12 18:31Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler software before version 2025.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-20627"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-08-12T17:15:30Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path for some Intel(R) oneAPI DPC++/C++ Compiler software before version 2025.0.1 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.",
"id": "GHSA-mwrr-xr32-rq6c",
"modified": "2025-08-12T18:31:27Z",
"published": "2025-08-12T18:31:27Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-20627"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://intel.com/content/www/us/en/security-center/advisory/intel-sa-01285.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-MXMX-4CJ8-4596
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-12 03:30 – Updated: 2025-04-12 03:30Uncontrolled search path element in Visual Studio Tools for Applications and SQL Server Management Studio allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-29803"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-12T02:15:20Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Uncontrolled search path element in Visual Studio Tools for Applications and SQL Server Management Studio allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.",
"id": "GHSA-mxmx-4cj8-4596",
"modified": "2025-04-12T03:30:30Z",
"published": "2025-04-12T03:30:30Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-29803"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-29803"
}
],
"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-P24J-H477-76Q3
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2021-08-25 21:01 – Updated: 2021-09-09 16:57bat on windows before 0.18.2 executes programs named less.exe from the current working directory. This can lead to unintended code execution.
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "crates.io",
"name": "bat"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "0.18.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2021-36753"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2021-07-19T16:44:50Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2021-07-15T20:15:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "bat on windows before 0.18.2 executes programs named less.exe from the current working directory. This can lead to unintended code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-p24j-h477-76q3",
"modified": "2021-09-09T16:57:53Z",
"published": "2021-08-25T21:01:37Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-36753"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat/pull/1724"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat/commit/bf2b2df9c9e218e35e5a38ce3d03cffb7c363956"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/sharkdp/bat/releases/tag/v0.18.2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://rustsec.org/advisories/RUSTSEC-2021-0106.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://vuln.ryotak.me/advisories/53"
}
],
"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": "Uncontrolled Search Path Element in sharkdp/bat"
}
GHSA-P268-FQX2-J4VP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-12 03:30 – Updated: 2025-12-12 03:30The High Level Synthesis Compiler i++ command for Windows is vulnerable to a DLL planting vulnerability
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-13670"
],
"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 High Level Synthesis Compiler i++ command for Windows is vulnerable to a DLL planting vulnerability",
"id": "GHSA-p268-fqx2-j4vp",
"modified": "2025-12-12T03:30:21Z",
"published": "2025-12-12T03:30:21Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-13670"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.altera.com/security/security-advisory/asa-0003"
}
],
"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-P2MV-5R7J-X4HH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-12-03 21:31 – Updated: 2025-12-03 21:31NVIDIA TAO contains a vulnerability where an attacker may cause a resource to be loaded via an uncontrolled search path. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service, information disclosure.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2025-33208"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-12-03T19:15:55Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "NVIDIA TAO contains a vulnerability where an attacker may cause a resource to be loaded via an uncontrolled search path. A successful exploit of this vulnerability may lead to escalation of privileges, data tampering, denial of service, information disclosure.",
"id": "GHSA-p2mv-5r7j-x4hh",
"modified": "2025-12-03T21:31:04Z",
"published": "2025-12-03T21:31:04Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2025-33208"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/5730"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2025-33208"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
GHSA-P2PJ-JX8F-JW9F
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-24 16:45 – Updated: 2022-05-24 16:45NVIDIA Windows GPU Display driver software for Windows (all versions) contains a vulnerability in which it incorrectly loads Windows system DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), leading to escalation of privileges through code execution.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2019-5676"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426",
"CWE-427"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2019-05-10T21:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "NVIDIA Windows GPU Display driver software for Windows (all versions) contains a vulnerability in which it incorrectly loads Windows system DLLs without validating the path or signature (also known as a binary planting or DLL preloading attack), leading to escalation of privileges through code execution.",
"id": "GHSA-p2pj-jx8f-jw9f",
"modified": "2022-05-24T16:45:28Z",
"published": "2022-05-24T16:45:28Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2019-5676"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4797"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4806"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://nvidia.custhelp.com/app/answers/detail/a_id/4841"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://support.lenovo.com/us/en/product_security/LEN-27815"
}
],
"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"
}
]
}
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.