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.
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Explain the attack pattern CAPEC-38: Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths: how it unfolds, what it needs and how to prevent and detect it in my systems. Use https://capec.mitre.org/data/definitions/38.html and https://cve.bz/cve/capec/38?via=ask-ai-copy, which lists recent CVEs with the weaknesses it exploits. Cite the sources.Opens a third-party assistant; its answer is its own, not cve.bz's. The prompt holds only this attack pattern's id and public links.
Prerequisites
The attacker must be able to write to redirect search paths on the victim host.
Skills required
- Low skill
To identify and execute against an over-privileged system interface
Consequences
| Impact | Affects | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Execute Unauthorized Commands | Confidentiality, Integrity, Availability | Run Arbitrary Code |
| Gain Privileges | Confidentiality, Access Control, Authorization |
Mitigations
Design: Enforce principle of least privilege
Design: Ensure that the program's compound parts, including all system dependencies, classpath, path, and so on, are secured to the same or higher level assurance as the program
Implementation: Host integrity monitoring
Weaknesses it exploits
Recent CVEs with these weaknesses
- 6.7CVE-2026-9063
A locally authenticated user can achieve privilege escalation via an insecure configuration that leads to unauthorized code execution. This flaw can only be exploited after authenticating with an admin-privileged service account.
- 8.2CVE-2026-86579
Binary Planting Vulnerability in Hitachi Dynamic Link Manager for Windows. This issue affects Hitachi Dynamic Link Manager for Windows: from 5.9.5-00 before 9.0.4-01.
- 7.5CVE-2026-120015
SAP Host Agent does not sufficiently validate certain inputs. Under certain condition, an attacker with low privileges could abuse the affected functionality to influence an internal component into loading a malicious file under a privileg…
- 7.8CVE-2026-114032
The OpenSSL library bundled with the Illumio VEN for Windows is affected by an uncontrolled search path vulnerability. A low-privileged, authenticated local attacker could potentially leverage this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code w…
- 9.3CVE-2026-104989
Uncontrolled search path element in package upload feature in Chaos Software V-Ray versions through 2.0.19 allows remote unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code via redirecting access to libraries
- 6.3CVE-2026-112170
The software downloads upgrade files without performing integrity checks, allowing the installation of tampered updates.
- 5.9CVE-2026-118450
Venere is installed outside Program Files and loads/registers unsigned components from locations where an unprivileged user may create files.
- 1.0CVE-2026-123510
Vikunja before 2.7.1 fails to re-anchor PluginsDir and LogPath to service.rootpath, allowing plugins to load from and logs to be written in the startup working directory. Local attackers able to write to that directory can plant plugins lo…
The newest records naming one of them. Each weakness's page lists them all.
Related attack patterns
- Part of
- CAPEC-159 Redirect Access to Libraries
Examples
Another method is to redirect commands by aliasing one legitimate command to another to create unexpected res…
Another method is to redirect commands by aliasing one legitimate command to another to create unexpected results. the Unix command "rm" could be aliased to "mv" and move all files the victim thinks they are deleting to a directory the attacker controls. In a Unix shell .profile setting
alias rm=mv /usr/home/attacker
In this case the attacker retains a copy of all the files the victim attempts to remove.
A standard UNIX path looks similar to this
A standard UNIX path looks similar to this
/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin
If the attacker modifies the path variable to point to a locale that includes malicious resources then the user unwittingly can execute commands on the attackers' behalf:
/evildir/bin:/sbin:/usr/bin:/usr/local/bin:/usr/sbin
This is a form of usurping control of the program and the attack can be done on the classpath, database resources, or any other resources built from compound parts. At runtime detection and blocking of this attack is nearly impossible, because the configuration allows execution.
MITRE's words, unchanged: CAPEC-38 at MITRE. CAPEC is Copyright © 2007–2026, The MITRE Corporation, used under the CAPEC terms of use: “The MITRE Corporation (MITRE) hereby grants you a non-exclusive, royalty-free license to use Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC™) for research, development, and commercial purposes. Any copy you make for such purposes is authorized provided that you reproduce MITRE’s copyright designation and this license in any such copy.” CAPEC and the CAPEC logo are trademarks of The MITRE Corporation. Credits. All attack patterns.