CWE-426
Allowed-with-ReviewUntrusted Search Path
Abstraction: Base · Status: Stable
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.
969 vulnerabilities reference this CWE, most recent first.
GHSA-V346-F4PJ-P3J2
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:40 – Updated: 2022-05-17 02:40Untrusted search path vulnerability in WinSparkle versions prior to 0.5.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted executable file in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2016-7838"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-06-09T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in WinSparkle versions prior to 0.5.3 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted executable file in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-v346-f4pj-p3j2",
"modified": "2022-05-17T02:40:38Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:40:38Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2016-7838"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/vslavik/winsparkle/commit/bb454857348245a7397f9e4fbb3a902f4ac25913"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN90813656/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN96681653/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://www.wireshark.org/news/20161214.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/95099"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V428-C7M6-VQCX
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2024-11-12 21:30 – Updated: 2024-11-12 21:30Substance3D - Painter versions 10.1.0 and earlier are affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. If the application uses a search path to locate critical resources such as programs, then an attacker could modify that search path to point to a malicious program, which the targeted application would then execute. The problem extends to any type of critical resource that the application trusts. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-49515"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2024-11-12T20:15:12Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Substance3D - Painter versions 10.1.0 and earlier are affected by an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability that might allow attackers to execute arbitrary code. If the application uses a search path to locate critical resources such as programs, then an attacker could modify that search path to point to a malicious program, which the targeted application would then execute. The problem extends to any type of critical resource that the application trusts. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.",
"id": "GHSA-v428-c7m6-vqcx",
"modified": "2024-11-12T21:30:55Z",
"published": "2024-11-12T21:30:54Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-49515"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/substance3d_painter/apsb24-86.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-V5PQ-XGR5-97VP
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-14 03:00 – Updated: 2022-05-14 03:00AnyDesk before "12.06.2018 - 4.1.3" on Windows 7 SP1 has a DLL preloading vulnerability.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-13102"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-07-03T16:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "AnyDesk before \"12.06.2018 - 4.1.3\" on Windows 7 SP1 has a DLL preloading vulnerability.",
"id": "GHSA-v5pq-xgr5-97vp",
"modified": "2022-05-14T03:00:03Z",
"published": "2022-05-14T03:00:03Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-13102"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://download.anydesk.com/changelog.txt"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V77V-QH6R-74QH
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2025-04-22 03:30 – Updated: 2025-04-22 03:30The passprompt plugin in pppd in ppp before 2.5.2 mishandles privileges.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2024-58250"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2025-04-22T01:15:17Z",
"severity": "CRITICAL"
},
"details": "The passprompt plugin in pppd in ppp before 2.5.2 mishandles privileges.",
"id": "GHSA-v77v-qh6r-74qh",
"modified": "2025-04-22T03:30:25Z",
"published": "2025-04-22T03:30:25Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-58250"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ppp-project/ppp/commit/0a66ad22e54c72690ec2a29a019767c55c5281fc"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/ppp-project/ppp/compare/v2.5.1...v2.5.2"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://ppp.samba.org"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V82J-7GR8-9XP6
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-10 06:31 – Updated: 2026-09-10 06:31Multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect™ app allows a local user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM on Windows and root on macOS and Linux. This enables a non-administrative user to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges.
This GlobalProtect app on iOS, Android and ChromeOS is not impacted.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-0307"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-10T06:17:03Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Multiple local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect\u2122 app allows a local user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM on Windows and root on macOS and Linux. This enables a non-administrative user to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges.\n\n\n\nThis GlobalProtect app on iOS, Android and ChromeOS is not impacted.",
"id": "GHSA-v82j-7gr8-9xp6",
"modified": "2026-09-10T06:31:45Z",
"published": "2026-09-10T06:31:45Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-0307"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0307"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:L/SI:L/SA:L/E:U/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:N/R:U/V:D/RE:M/U:Amber",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-V8F9-PQ46-34R9
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-08-13 03:31 – Updated: 2026-09-03 18:31Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect™ app enable a local user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY\SYSTEM on Windows, and root on macOS and Linux. This enables a non-administrative user to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges.
The GlobalProtect app on iOS, Android, and Chrome OS is not affected.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-0299"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2026-08-13T03:16:45Z",
"severity": "MODERATE"
},
"details": "Local privilege escalation vulnerabilities in the Palo Alto Networks GlobalProtect\u2122 app enable a local user to escalate their privileges to NT AUTHORITY\\SYSTEM on Windows, and root on macOS and Linux. This enables a non-administrative user to execute arbitrary commands with administrative privileges.\n\nThe GlobalProtect app on iOS, Android, and Chrome OS is not affected.",
"id": "GHSA-v8f9-pq46-34r9",
"modified": "2026-09-03T18:31:25Z",
"published": "2026-08-13T03:31:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-0299"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.paloaltonetworks.com/CVE-2026-0299"
}
],
"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:U/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:N/R:U/V:D/RE:M/U:Amber",
"type": "CVSS_V4"
}
]
}
GHSA-V8PV-4842-X354
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2026-09-16 13:54 – Updated: 2026-09-16 13:54Summary
The OpenTelemetry.Resources.Host NuGet package is affected by an untrusted search path vulnerability on macOS. The host.id resource attribute detector launches the sh and ioreg executables by bare name rather than by absolute path, so both are resolved
through the PATH environment variable.
A local attacker who is less privileged than the host application, and who can influence PATH or write to a directory that appears in PATH ahead of the system directories, can have an arbitrary binary executed in the application's security context, resulting in local
code execution/privilege escalation.
Details
The implementation of the host detector macOS has always invoked ioreg and sh via their bare names since it was implemented by open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib#1631.
The vulnerability was fixed by open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib#4760 which executes ioreg directly using its absolute path.
Impact
Applications running on macOS that use the OpenTelemetry.Resources.Host detector when an attacker who is less privileged than the application process can influence PATH or write to a PATH directory that precedes the system directories (e.g. a higher-privileged service with a user-writable directory in its search path, or a process inheriting an attacker-influenced environment). The attacker gains code execution in the application's security context through an attacker-controlled ioreg executable.
Mitigation
This vulnerability only affect macOS hosts - Linux and Windows hosts are unaffected.
Workarounds
None known.
References
{
"affected": [
{
"package": {
"ecosystem": "NuGet",
"name": "OpenTelemetry.Resources.Host"
},
"ranges": [
{
"events": [
{
"introduced": "0"
},
{
"fixed": "1.16.0-beta.2"
}
],
"type": "ECOSYSTEM"
}
]
}
],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2026-81192"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": true,
"github_reviewed_at": "2026-09-16T13:54:16Z",
"nvd_published_at": "2026-09-08T21:18:43Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "### Summary\n\nThe `OpenTelemetry.Resources.Host` NuGet package is affected by an untrusted search path vulnerability on macOS. The `host.id` resource attribute detector launches the `sh` and `ioreg` executables by bare name rather than by absolute path, so both are resolved\nthrough the `PATH` environment variable.\n\nA local attacker who is less privileged than the host application, and who can influence `PATH` or write to a directory that appears in `PATH` ahead of the system directories, can have an arbitrary binary executed in the application\u0027s security context, resulting in local\ncode execution/privilege escalation.\n\n### Details\n\nThe implementation of the host detector macOS has always invoked `ioreg` and `sh` via their bare names since it was implemented by [open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib#1631](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib/pull/1631).\n\nThe vulnerability was fixed by [open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib#4760](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib/pull/4760) which executes `ioreg` directly using its absolute path.\n\n### Impact\n\nApplications running on **macOS** that use the `OpenTelemetry.Resources.Host` detector when an attacker who is *less privileged* than the application process can influence `PATH` or write to a `PATH` directory that precedes the system directories (e.g. a higher-privileged service with a user-writable directory in its search path, or a process inheriting an attacker-influenced environment). The attacker gains code execution in the application\u0027s security context through an attacker-controlled `ioreg` executable.\n\n### Mitigation\n\nThis vulnerability only affect macOS hosts - Linux and Windows hosts are unaffected.\n\n### Workarounds\n\nNone known.\n\n### References\n\n- [GHSA-9h8m-3fm2-qjrq](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-go/security/advisories/GHSA-9h8m-3fm2-qjrq)\n- [open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib#4760](https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib/pull/4760)\n- [CWE-426](https://cwe.mitre.org/data/definitions/426.html)",
"id": "GHSA-v8pv-4842-x354",
"modified": "2026-09-16T13:54:16Z",
"published": "2026-09-16T13:54:16Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib/security/advisories/GHSA-v8pv-4842-x354"
},
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-81192"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib/pull/1631"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib/pull/4760"
},
{
"type": "PACKAGE",
"url": "https://github.com/open-telemetry/opentelemetry-dotnet-contrib"
}
],
"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"
}
],
"summary": "OpenTelemetry.Resources.Host vulnerable to arbitrary code execution via local PATH hijacking on macOS"
}
GHSA-V8XQ-V2W7-R84C
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-13 01:10 – Updated: 2022-05-13 01:10Untrusted search path vulnerability in Installers of ART EX Driver for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 12 Apr 2017 02:04 UTC.), PostScript? Driver + Additional Feature Plug-in + PPD File for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 12 Apr 2017 02:10 UTC.), XPS Print Driver for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 3 Nov 2017 23:48 UTC.), ART EX Direct FAX Driver for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 26 May 2017 07:44 UTC.), Setting Restore Tool for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 25 Aug 2015 08:51 UTC.) allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-10850"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-09-01T14:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in Installers of ART EX Driver for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 12 Apr 2017 02:04 UTC.), PostScript? Driver + Additional Feature Plug-in + PPD File for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 12 Apr 2017 02:10 UTC.), XPS Print Driver for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 3 Nov 2017 23:48 UTC.), ART EX Direct FAX Driver for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 26 May 2017 07:44 UTC.), Setting Restore Tool for ApeosPort-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271, DocuCentre-VI C7771/C6671/C5571/C4471/C3371/C2271 (Timestamp of code signing is before 25 Aug 2015 08:51 UTC.) allows an attacker to gain privileges via a Trojan horse DLL in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-v8xq-v2w7-r84c",
"modified": "2022-05-13T01:10:41Z",
"published": "2022-05-13T01:10:41Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-10850"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN09769017/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.fujixerox.co.jp/company/news/notice/2017/0831_rectification_work.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-V93G-8XMC-XVQM
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-04-30 00:02 – Updated: 2022-04-30 00:02It was found that glusterfs server does not properly sanitize file paths in the "trusted.io-stats-dump" extended attribute which is used by the "debug/io-stats" translator. Attacker can use this flaw to create files and execute arbitrary code. To exploit this attacker would require sufficient access to modify the extended attributes of files on a gluster volume.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2018-10904"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2018-09-04T13:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "It was found that glusterfs server does not properly sanitize file paths in the \"trusted.io-stats-dump\" extended attribute which is used by the \"debug/io-stats\" translator. Attacker can use this flaw to create files and execute arbitrary code. To exploit this attacker would require sufficient access to modify the extended attributes of files on a gluster volume.",
"id": "GHSA-v93g-8xmc-xvqm",
"modified": "2022-04-30T00:02:18Z",
"published": "2022-04-30T00:02:18Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2018-10904"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2607"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:2608"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://access.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2018:3470"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=CVE-2018-10904"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2018/09/msg00021.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/11/msg00000.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://review.gluster.org/#/c/glusterfs/+/21072"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/201904-06"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2020-01/msg00035.html"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
"type": "CVSS_V3"
}
]
}
GHSA-V94P-C7M9-656X
Vulnerability from github – Published: 2022-05-17 02:44 – Updated: 2025-04-20 03:37Untrusted search path vulnerability in Installer for PrimeDrive Desktop Application version 1.4.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted executable file in an unspecified directory.
{
"affected": [],
"aliases": [
"CVE-2017-2167"
],
"database_specific": {
"cwe_ids": [
"CWE-426"
],
"github_reviewed": false,
"github_reviewed_at": null,
"nvd_published_at": "2017-05-12T18:29:00Z",
"severity": "HIGH"
},
"details": "Untrusted search path vulnerability in Installer for PrimeDrive Desktop Application version 1.4.4 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a specially crafted executable file in an unspecified directory.",
"id": "GHSA-v94p-c7m9-656x",
"modified": "2025-04-20T03:37:39Z",
"published": "2022-05-17T02:44:47Z",
"references": [
{
"type": "ADVISORY",
"url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-2167"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "https://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN16248227/index.html"
},
{
"type": "WEB",
"url": "http://www.softbank.jp/biz/news/cloud/170426"
}
],
"schema_version": "1.4.0",
"severity": [
{
"score": "CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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
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
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.
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 it, 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.