Vulnerability in Microsoft Windows

CVE-2022-26488

In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is inadequately secured. The installer may allow a local attacker to add user-writable directories to the system search path. To exploit, an administrator must have installed Python for all users and enabled PATH entries. A non-administrative user can trigger a repair that incorrectly adds user-writable paths into PATH, enabling search-path hijacking of other users and system services. This affects Python (CPython) through 3.7.12, 3.8.x through 3.8.12, 3.9.x through 3.9.10, and 3.10.x through 3.10.2.

EPSS: 0.014 (69.0th percentile) — read the EPSS interpretation.

CVSS v3 metric

CVSS v3 base score 7.0 (High). Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H.

Affected products

Weakness classification (CWE)

Public proof-of-concept exploits

References

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2022-26488?
CVE-2022-26488 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Windows, classified under Untrusted Search Path. CVSS score: 7.0/10. Published 2022-03-10.
How severe is CVE-2022-26488?
High severity. CVSS v3 base score is 7.0 out of 10.
Is CVE-2022-26488 known to be exploited?
2 public proof-of-concept repositories are indexed. Not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.