Weakness (CWE)
CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path
The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control.
More detail
Some of the most common variants of untrusted search path are:
- In various UNIX and Linux-based systems, the PATH environment variable may be consulted to locate executable programs, and LD_PRELOAD may be used to locate a separate library. Programming languages may have their own paths for locating code, e.g. PERL5LIB in Perl.
- In various Microsoft-based systems, the PATH environment variable is consulted to locate a DLL, if the DLL is not found in other paths that appear earlier in the search order.
How to prevent it (5 mitigations)
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Architecture and Design, Implementation
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.
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Implementation
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.
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Implementation
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.
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Implementation
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.
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Implementation
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 it, while execl() and execv() require a full path.
Source: MITRE CWE-426
374 results · Feed
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High 8.8
TimescaleDB uses untrusted search path during extension upgrade
TimescaleDB is a time-series database for high-performance real-time analytics packaged as a Postgres extension. From version 2.23.0 to 2.25.1, PostgreSQL uses the search_path setting to locate unqualified database objects (tables, functions, operators). If t…
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Medium —
OpenClaw's tools.exec.safeBins trusted PATH directories allowed binary shadowing in allowlist mode
### Summary In `openclaw` allowlist mode, `tools.exec.safeBins` trusted PATH-derived directories for safe-bin resolution. A same-name binary placed in a trusted PATH directory could satisfy safe-bin checks and execute. ### Impact This is an allowlist bypass i…
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High 7.8
eAI Technologies｜ERP - DLL Hijacking
ERP developed by eAI Technologies has a DLL Hijacking vulnerability, allowing authenticated local attackers to place a crafted DLL file in the same directory as the program, thereby executing arbitrary code.
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High 7.3
Notepad++ has an Untrusted Search Path
Notepad++ is a free and open-source source code editor. An Unsafe Search Path vulnerability (CWE-426) exists in versions prior to 8.9.2 when launching Windows Explorer without an absolute executable path. This may allow execution of a malicious explorer.exe i…
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High 7.0
Total VPN win-service.exe unquoted search path
A weakness has been identified in Total VPN 0.5.29.0 on Windows. Affected by this vulnerability is an unknown functionality of the file C:\Program Files\Total VPN\win-service.exe. Executing a manipulation can lead to unquoted search path. It is possible to la…
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High 7.0
Flos Freeware Notepad2 Msimg32.dll uncontrolled search path
A security flaw has been discovered in Flos Freeware Notepad2 4.2.22/4.2.23/4.2.24/4.2.25. Affected is an unknown function in the library Msimg32.dll. Performing a manipulation results in uncontrolled search path. Attacking locally is a requirement. The attac…
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High 7.0
Unidocs ezPDF DRM Reader/ezPDF Reader SHFOLDER.dll uncontrolled search path
A vulnerability was identified in Unidocs ezPDF DRM Reader and ezPDF Reader 2.0/3.0.0.4. This affects an unknown part in the library SHFOLDER.dll. Such manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. The attack needs to be performed locally. Attacks of this n…
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High 7.0CVE-2026-21508 Public exploit
Windows Storage Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Improper authentication in Windows Storage allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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High 7.5
SiYuan has a File Read Interface Case Bypass Vulnerability
SiYuan is a personal knowledge management system. Prior to 3.5.5, the /api/file/getFile endpoint uses case-sensitive string equality checks to block access to sensitive files. On case-insensitive file systems such as Windows, attackers can bypass restrictions…
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High 7.0
Artifex MuPDF win_main.c get_system_dpi uncontrolled search path
A flaw has been found in Artifex MuPDF up to 1.26.1 on Windows. The impacted element is the function get_system_dpi of the file platform/x11/win_main.c. This manipulation causes uncontrolled search path. The attack requires local access. The attack is conside…
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High 7.8
Untrusted Search Path in SumatraPDF Reader (explorer.exe on Windows)
SumatraPDF is a multi-format reader for Windows. In 3.5.2 and earlier, the PDF reader allows execution of a malicious binary (explorer.exe) located in the same directory as the opened PDF when the user clicks File → “Show in folder”. This behavior leads to ar…
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Low 2.7
Tanium addressed an improper input validation vulnerability in Tanium Appliance.
Tanium addressed an improper input validation vulnerability in Tanium Appliance.
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Medium 5.1
IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container Information Disclosure
IBM App Connect Enterprise Certified Container CD: 11.2.0 through 11.6.0, 12.1.0 through 12.19.0 and 12.0 LTS: 12.0.0 through 12.0.19 could allow an attacker to access sensitive files or modify configurations due to an untrusted search path.
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High 7.8
Untrusted Search Path Vulnerability when opening max Files
A maliciously crafted project directory, when opening a max file in Autodesk 3ds Max, could lead to execution of arbitrary code in the context of the current process due to an Untrusted Search Path being utilized.
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Critical 9.3
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Embedded Solutions Framework
An untrusted search path vulnerability has been identified in the Embedded Solutions Framework in various Lexmark devices. This vulnerability can be leveraged by an attacker to execute arbitrary code.
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High 7.0
OpenTelemetry-Go Affected by Arbitrary Code Execution via PATH Hijacking
OpenTelemetry-Go is the Go implementation of OpenTelemetry. The OpenTelemetry Go SDK in version v1.20.0-1.39.0 is vulnerable to Path Hijacking (Untrusted Search Paths) on macOS/Darwin systems. The resource detection code in sdk/resource/host_id.go executes th…
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High 8.8
Local Privilege Escalation via DYLIB Injection in Native Instruments Native Access
During the installation of the Native Access application, a privileged helper `com.native-instruments.NativeAccess.Helper2`, which is used by Native Access to trigger functions via XPC communication like copy-file, remove or set-permissions, is deployed as we…
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Medium 6.5
pnpm: Binary ZIP extraction allows arbitrary file write via path traversal (Zip Slip)
pnpm is a package manager. Prior to version 10.28.1, a path traversal vulnerability in pnpm's binary fetcher allows malicious packages to write files outside the intended extraction directory. The vulnerability has two attack vectors: (1) Malicious ZIP entrie…
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High 8.6
SumatraPDF has an Untrusted Search Path in sumatrapdf/src/AppTools.cpp
SumatraPDF is a multi-format reader for Windows. In 3.5.2 and earlier, there is a Untrusted Search Path vulnerability when Advanced Options setting is trigger. The application executes notepad.exe without specifying an absolute path when using the Advanced Op…
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High 8.6
Illustrator | Untrusted Search Path (CWE-426)
Illustrator versions 29.8.3, 30.0 and earlier are affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. If the application uses a search path to locate critical resources such as p…
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High 7.0
Microsoft Office Click-To-Run Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
Untrusted search path in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
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High 8.5
An uncontrolled DLL loading path vulnerability exists in AsusSoftwareManagerAgent. A local attacker may influence the a…
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Medium 6.5
LogicalDOC Enterprise 7.7.4 Authenticated Command Execution via Binary Path Manipulation
LogicalDOC Enterprise 7.7.4 contains multiple authenticated OS command execution vulnerabilities that allow attackers to manipulate binary paths when changing system settings. Attackers can exploit these vulnerabilities by modifying configuration parameters l…
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Medium 5.7
Authenticated amportal search for ‘freepbx_engine’ in non root writeable directories leads to potential privilege escalation
FreePBX is an open-source web-based graphical user interface (GUI) that manages Asterisk. Prior to versions 16.0.45 and 17.0.24 of the FreePBX framework, an authenticated local privilege escalation exists in the deprecated FreePBX startup script `amportal`. I…
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High 7.8
Acrobat Reader | Untrusted Search Path (CWE-426)
Acrobat Reader versions 24.001.30264, 20.005.30793, 25.001.20982, 24.001.30273, 20.005.30803 and earlier are affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the app…
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High 7.5
Untrusted search path in auth_query connection in PgBouncer
Untrusted search path in auth_query connection handler in PgBouncer before 1.25.1 allows an unauthenticated attacker to execute arbitrary SQL during authentication via a malicious search_path parameter in the StartupMessage.
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Medium 5.8
Agent builds for AIX vulnerable to library loading hijacking
Library loading on AIX Zabbix Agent builds can be hijacked by local users with write access to the /home/cecuser directory.
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Critical 9.8
NCP Secure Enterprise Client 13.18 and NCP Secure Entry Windows Client 13.19 have an Untrusted Search Path vulnerabilit…
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High 7.3
Incorrect default permissions in AMD StoreMI™ could allow an attacker to achieve privilege escalation potentially resul…
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High 7.3
A DLL hijacking vulnerability in AMD StoreMI™ could allow an attacker to achieve privilege escalation, potentially resu…
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High 7.0
Muse Group MuseHub Windows Service Muse.Updater.exe unquoted search path
A security flaw has been discovered in Muse Group MuseHub 2.1.0.1567. The affected element is an unknown function of the file C:\Program Files\WindowsApps\Muse.MuseHub_2.1.0.1567_x64__rb9pth70m6nz6\Muse.Updater.exe of the component Windows Service. The manipu…
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High 7.8
Windows Administrator Protection Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Untrusted search path in Windows Administrator Protection allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
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Medium 6.3
Local Privilege Escalation via qagent_uninstall.sh Qualys Cloud Agents
The Qualys Cloud Agent included a bundled uninstall script (qagent_uninstall.sh), specific to Mac and Linux supported versions that invoked multiple system commands without using absolute paths and without sanitizing the $PATH environment. If the uninstall sc…
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High 7.3
Potential Privilege Escalation in Revenera InstallShield 2023 R1
Potential privilege escalation issue in Revenera InstallShield version 2023 R1 running a renamed Setup.exe on Windows. When a local administrator executes a renamed Setup.exe, the MPR.dll may get loaded from an insecure location and can result in a privilege …
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High 7.0
VeePN AVService avservice.exe unquoted search path
A weakness has been identified in VeePN up to 1.6.2. This affects an unknown function of the file C:\Program Files (x86)\VeePN\avservice\avservice.exe of the component AVService. This manipulation causes unquoted search path. The attack requires local access.…
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High 7.0
Hasleo Backup Suite HasleoImageMountService/HasleoBackupSuiteService unquoted search path
A weakness has been identified in Hasleo Backup Suite up to 5.2. Impacted is an unknown function of the component HasleoImageMountService/HasleoBackupSuiteService. This manipulation causes unquoted search path. The attack is restricted to local execution. The…
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High 7.0
LibreWolf Installer setup.nsi uncontrolled search path
A security vulnerability has been detected in LibreWolf up to 143.0.4-1 on Windows. This affects an unknown function of the file assets/setup.nsi of the component Installer. Such manipulation leads to uncontrolled search path. The attack must be carried out l…
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High 7.4CVE-2025-59489 Public exploit
Unity Runtime before 2025-10-02 on Android, Windows, macOS, and Linux allows argument injection that can result in load…
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High 7.0CVE-2025-9267 Public exploit
In Seagate Toolkit on Windows a vulnerability exists in the Toolkit Installer prior to versions 2.35.0.6 where it attem…
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High 7.0
Mechrevo Control Center GX V2 Powershell Script Command uncontrolled search path
A vulnerability has been found in Mechrevo Control Center GX V2 5.56.51.48. Affected is an unknown function of the file C:\Program Files\OEM\机械革命控制中心\AiStoneService\MyControlCenter\Command of the component Powershell Script Handler. Such manipulation leads to…