{"id":"CVE-2022-26488","title":"In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is inadequately secured","summary":"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 admi…","severity":"high","cvss":7,"cvssVector":"CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H","cwe":["CWE-426"],"vendor":"python","product":"python","affected":["python <= 3.7.12","python >= 3.8.0, <= 3.8.12","python >= 3.9.0, <= 3.9.10","python >= 3.10.0, <= 3.10.2","python = 3.11.0","active_iq_unified_manager","ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility"],"published":"2022-03-10","updated":"2026-10-08","sourceUpdated":"2026-10-08T21:17:44.860","source":"NVD","sourceUrl":"https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26488","references":[{"url":"https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce%40python.org/thread/657Z4XULWZNIY5FRP3OWXHYKUSIH6DMN/","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220419-0005/","label":"cve@mitre.org"},{"url":"https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce%40python.org/thread/657Z4XULWZNIY5FRP3OWXHYKUSIH6DMN/","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"},{"url":"https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220419-0005/","label":"af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"}],"tags":["nvd","exploit-available"],"epss":0.01365,"epssPercentile":0.70968,"exploits":{"github":1,"githubRepos":["https://github.com/techspence/PyPATHPwner"],"checkedAt":"2026-10-08T22:12:30.003Z"},"exploitAvailable":true,"ingestedAt":"2026-10-08T22:11:53.748Z","slug":"CVE-2022-26488","body":"## Overview\n\nIn 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.\n\n## Affected\n\n- `python <= 3.7.12`\n- `python >= 3.8.0, <= 3.8.12`\n- `python >= 3.9.0, <= 3.9.10`\n- `python >= 3.10.0, <= 3.10.2`\n- `python = 3.11.0`\n- `active_iq_unified_manager`\n- `ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility`\n\n## Remediation\n\nRefer to the linked advisories for vendor-supplied fixes and affected version ranges.","depth":"midnight","depthScore":51,"depthScoreParts":{"impact":38.5,"likelihood":0.3,"exploitation":12,"ransomware":0},"changes":[]}