On Windows, if Git LFS operates on a malicious repository with a `..exe` file as well as a file named `git.exe`, and `git.exe` is not found in `PATH`, the `..exe` program will be executed, permitting the attacker to execute arbitrary code. This does not affect Unix systems. Similarly, if the malicious repository contains files named `..exe` and `cygpath.exe`, and `cygpath.exe` is not found in `PATH`, the `..exe` program will be executed when certain Git LFS commands are run. More generally, if the current working directory contains any file with a base name of `.` and a file extension from `PATHEXT` (except `.bat` and `.cmd`), and also contains another file with the same base name as a program Git LFS intends to execute (such as `git`, `cygpath`, or `uname`) and any file extension from `PATHEXT` (including `.bat` and `.cmd`), then, on Windows, when Git LFS attempts to execute the intended program the `..exe`, `..com`, etc., file will be executed instead, but only if the intended program is not found in any directory listed in `PATH`. The vulnerability occurs because when Git LFS detects that the program it intends to run does not exist in any directory listed in `PATH` then Git LFS passes an empty string as the executable file path to the Go `os/exec` package, which contains a bug such that, on Windows, it prepends the name of the current working directory (i.e., `.`) to the empty string without adding a path separator, and as a result searches in that directory for a file with the base name `.` combined with any file extension from `PATHEXT`, executing the first one it finds. (The reason `..bat` and `..cmd` files are not executed in the same manner is that, although the Go `os/exec` package tries to execute them just as it does a `..exe` file, the Microsoft Win32 API `CreateProcess()` family of functions have an undocumented feature in that they apparently recognize when a caller is attempting to execute a batch script file and instead run the `cmd.exe` command interpreter, passing the full set of command line arguments as parameters. These are unchanged from the command line arguments set by Git LFS, and as such, the intended program's name is the first, resulting in a command line like `cmd.exe /c git`, which then fails.) Git LFS has resolved this vulnerability by always reporting an error when a program is not found in any directory listed in `PATH` rather than passing an empty string to the Go `os/exec` package in this case. The bug in the Go `os/exec` package has been reported to the Go project and is expected to be patched after this security advisory is published. The problem was introduced in version 2.12.1 and is patched in version 3.1.3. Users of affected versions should upgrade to version 3.1.3. There are currently no known workarounds at this time.

An untrusted search path vulnerability in the AprolConfigureCCServices of B&R APROL <= R 4.2.-07P3 and <= R 4.4-00P3 may allow an authenticated local attacker to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges.

Adobe Thor versions 3.9.5.353 and earlier have a vulnerability in the directory search path used to find resources, related to Creative Cloud desktop applications.

DLL hijacking in the management console of Ivanti Workspace Control before version 2025.2 (10.19.0.0) allows a local authenticated attacker to escalate their privileges.

Microsoft Office Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

SupportAssist Client version 3.8 and 3.9 contains an Untrusted search path vulnerability that allows attackers to load an arbitrary .dll file via .dll planting/hijacking, only by a separate administrative action that is not a default part of the SOSInstallerTool.exe installation for executing arbitrary dll's,

An issue was discovered in Druva 6.9.0 for MacOS, allows attackers to gain escalated local privileges via the inSyncDecommission.

The Dolby Audio X2 (DAX2) API service before 0.8.8.90 on Windows allows local users to gain privileges.

A local low privileged attacker can use an untrusted search path in a CHARX system utility to gain root privileges. 

Untrusted search path in some Zoom 32 bit Windows clients may allow an authenticated user to conduct an escalation of privilege via local access.

Creditcoin is a network that enables cross-blockchain credit transactions. The Windows binary of the Creditcoin node loads a suite of DLLs provided by Microsoft at startup. If a malicious user has access to overwrite the program files directory it is possible to replace these DLLs and execute arbitrary code. It is the view of the blockchain development team that the threat posed by a hypothetical binary planting attack is minimal and represents a low-security risk. The vulnerable DLL files are from the Windows networking subsystem, the Visual C++ runtime, and low-level cryptographic primitives. Collectively these dependencies are required for a large ecosystem of applications, ranging from enterprise-level security applications to game engines, and don’t represent a fundamental lack of security or oversight in the design and implementation of Creditcoin. The blockchain team takes the stance that running Creditcoin on Windows is officially unsupported and at best should be thought of as experimental.

The writeRandomBytes_RtlGenRandom function in xmlparse.c in libexpat in Expat 2.2.1 and 2.2.2 on Windows allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse ADVAPI32.DLL in the current working directory because of an untrusted search path, aka DLL hijacking.

Windows Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

A vulnerability in the Cisco FindIT Network Discovery Utility could allow an authenticated, local attacker to perform a DLL preloading attack, potentially causing a partial impact to device availability, confidentiality, and integrity. The vulnerability is due to the application loading a malicious copy of a specific, nondefined DLL file instead of the DLL file it was expecting. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by placing an affected DLL within the search path of the host system. An exploit could allow the attacker to load a malicious DLL file into the system, thus partially compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the device. Cisco Bug IDs: CSCve89785.

Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in installer in Synology Photo Station Uploader before 1.4.2-084 on Windows allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code and conduct DLL hijacking attack via a Trojan horse (1) shfolder.dll, (2) ntmarta.dll, (3) secur32.dll or (4) dwmapi.dll file in the current working directory.

A untrusted search path vulnerability in Fortinet FortiClientWindows 7.0.9 allows an attacker to perform a DLL Hijack attack via a malicious OpenSSL engine library in the search path.

DLL Injection Vulnerability in McAfee Agent (MA) for Windows prior to 5.6.6 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via careful placement of a malicious DLL.

Windows Client Server Run-time Subsystem (CSRSS) Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in the installer in Synology Cloud Station Drive before 4.2.5-4396 on Windows allow local attackers to execute arbitrary code and conduct DLL hijacking attacks via a Trojan horse (1) shfolder.dll, (2) ntmarta.dll, (3) secur32.dll or (4) dwmapi.dll file in the current working directory.

Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in installer in Synology Assistant before 6.1-15163 on Windows allows local attackers to execute arbitrary code and conduct DLL hijacking attack via a Trojan horse (1) shfolder.dll, (2) ntmarta.dll, (3) secur32.dll or (4) dwmapi.dll file in the current working directory.

Avira Software Updater before 2.0.6.21094 allows a DLL side-loading attack. NOTE: The vendor thinks that this vulnerability is invalid because exploiting it would require at least administrator privileges and would gain only SYSTEM privileges

An issue was discovered in Eracent EPA Agent through 10.2.26. The agent executable, when installed for non-root operations (scanning), can be used to start external programs with elevated permissions because of an Untrusted Search Path.

Multiple untrusted search path vulnerabilities in the installer in Synology Cloud Station Backup before 4.2.5-4396 on Windows allow local attackers to execute arbitrary code and conduct DLL hijacking attacks via a Trojan horse (1) shfolder.dll, (2) ntmarta.dll, (3) secur32.dll or (4) dwmapi.dll file in the current working directory.

Dell SupportAssist for Home PCs version 3.14.1 and prior versions contain a privilege escalation vulnerability in the installer. A local low privileged authenticated attacker may potentially exploit this vulnerability, leading to the execution of arbitrary executable on the operating system with elevated privileges.

Privileges manipulation in Micro Focus Data Protector, versions 10.00, 10.01, 10.02, 10.03, 10.04, 10.10, 10.20, 10.30, 10.40. This vulnerability could be exploited by a low-privileged user to execute a custom binary with higher privileges.

An untrusted search path vulnerability in the Trend Micro Apex One and Apex One as a Service security agent could allow a local attacker to escalate their privileges on affected installations. Please note: an attacker must first obtain the ability to execute low-privileged code on the target system in order to exploit this vulnerability. This is a similar, but not identical vulnerability as CVE-2023-34145.

In Total Defense Anti-virus 9.0.0.773, resource acquisition from the untrusted search path C:\ used by caschelp.exe allows local attackers to hijack ccGUIFrm.dll, which leads to code execution. SYSTEM-level code execution can be achieved when the ccSchedulerSVC service runs the affected executable.

Unquoted service path in Control Center-I version 2.1.0.0 and earlier may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.

An untrusted search path vulnerability in B&R APROL <= R 4.4-00P3 may be used by an authenticated local attacker to get other users to execute arbitrary code under their privileges.

JetBrains Rider before 2019.1.2 was using an unsigned JetBrains.Rider.Unity.Editor.Plugin.Repacked.dll file.

Microsoft Exchange Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

On Linux the sccache client can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of a local sccache server, by preloading the code in a shared library passed to LD_PRELOAD. If the server is run as root (which is the default when installing the snap package https://snapcraft.io/sccache ), this means a user running the sccache client can get root privileges.

IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes DB2 Connect Server) 9.7, 10.1, 10.5, and 11.1 binaries load shared libraries from an untrusted path potentially giving low privilege user full access to the DB2 instance account by loading a malicious shared library. IBM X-Force ID: 149640.

In PaperStream IP (TWAIN) 1.42.0.5685 (Service Update 7), the FJTWSVIC service running with SYSTEM privilege processes unauthenticated messages received over the FjtwMkic_Fjicube_32 named pipe. One of these message processing functions attempts to dynamically load the UninOldIS.dll library and executes an exported function named ChangeUninstallString. The default install does not contain this library and therefore if any DLL with that name exists in any directory listed in the PATH variable, it can be used to escalate to SYSTEM level privilege.

A DLL search path vulnerability was reported in Lenovo Diagnostics prior to version 4.35.4 that could allow a user with local access to execute code on the system.

Untrusted Search Path vulnerability in Bitdefender High-Level Antimalware SDK for Windows allows an attacker to load third party code from a DLL library in the search path. This issue affects: Bitdefender High-Level Antimalware SDK for Windows versions prior to 3.0.1.204 .

Untrusted search path vulnerability in Microsoft Auto Updater for Mac allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse executable file, aka "Microsoft (MAU) Office Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability."

IBM DB2 for Linux, UNIX and Windows (includes DB2 Connect Server) 9.7, 10.1, 10.5 and 11.1 binaries load shared libraries from an untrusted path potentially giving low privilege users full access to the DB2 instance account by loading a malicious shared library. IBM X-Force ID: 140972.

Untrusted search path in System Center allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.

Mist is the command-line interface for the makedeb Package Repository. Prior to version 0.9.5, a user-provided `sudo` binary via the `PATH` variable can allow a local user to run arbitrary commands on the user's system with root permissions. Versions 0.9.5 and later contain a patch. No known workarounds exist.

In ansible it was found that inventory variables are loaded from current working directory when running ad-hoc command which are under attacker's control, allowing to run arbitrary code as a result.

Uncontrolled search path in some Intel(R) RST software before versions 16.8.5.1014.5, 17.11.3.1010.2, 18.7.6.1011.2 and 19.5.2.1049.5 may allow an authenticated user to potentially enable escalation of privilege via local access.

ESTsoft ALZip before 10.76 allows local users to execute arbitrary code via creating a malicious .DLL file and installing it in a specific directory: %PROGRAMFILES%\ESTsoft\ALZip\Formats, %PROGRAMFILES%\ESTsoft\ALZip\Coders, %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\ESTsoft\ALZip\Formats, or %PROGRAMFILES(X86)%\ESTsoft\ALZip\Coders.

service_windows.go in the kardianos service package for Go omits quoting that is sometimes needed for execution of a Windows service executable from the intended directory. NOTE: this finding could not be reproduced by its original reporter or by others.

A Untrusted Search Path vulnerability in openldap2 of openSUSE Factory allows local attackers with control of the ldap user or group to change ownership of arbitrary directory entries to this user/group, leading to escalation to root. This issue affects: openSUSE Factory openldap2 versions prior to 2.6.3-404.1.

An untrusted search path vulnerability was reported in Lenovo PC Manager that could allow a local attacker to elevate privileges.

Snowflake JDBC provides a JDBC type 4 driver that supports core functionality, allowing Java program to connect to Snowflake. Snowflake discovered and remediated a vulnerability in the Snowflake JDBC Driver. When the EXTERNALBROWSER authentication method is used on Windows, an attacker with write access to a directory in the %PATH% can escalate their privileges to the user that runs the vulnerable JDBC Driver version. This vulnerability affects versions 3.2.3 through 3.21.0 on Windows. Snowflake fixed the issue in version 3.22.0.

Cryptomator through 1.6.5 allows DYLIB injection because, although it has the flag 0x1000 for Hardened Runtime, it has the com.apple.security.cs.disable-library-validation and com.apple.security.cs.allow-dyld-environment-variables entitlements. An attacker can exploit this by creating a malicious .dylib file that can be executed via the DYLD_INSERT_LIBRARIES environment variable.

Golden Frog VyprVPN before 2018-06-21 has a vulnerability associated with the installation process on Windows.

A flaw was found in ansible. ansible.cfg is read from the current working directory which can be altered to make it point to a plugin or a module path under the control of an attacker, thus allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code.