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.

CVSS 3.1

7.0CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS

1.5% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days; higher than 74% of CVEs (scores of 2026-10-25)

CWE

CWE-426

Published

2022-03-10

Modified

2026-10-14

Record from

the NVD, synced 2026-10-19

Affected

• netapp:active_iq_unified_manager
• netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility
• python:python

References

• https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce%40python.org/thread/657Z4XULWZNIY5FRP3OWXHYKUSIH6DMN/
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220419-0005/
• https://mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce%40python.org/thread/657Z4XULWZNIY5FRP3OWXHYKUSIH6DMN/
• https://security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220419-0005/
• https://cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html

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