CVE-2022-26488
In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is...
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- High
- Privileges needed
- Low
- User interaction
- None
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
NVD Score used
7.0
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.
- Record
CVE-2022-26488- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 4.4 Medium
AV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
CVE List No score
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.
- Record
CVE-2022-26488- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2022-31046 No score
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.
- Record
EUVD-2022-31046- Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-3f7p-x3g9-9grh
7.0
In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is...
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.
- Record
GHSA-3f7p-x3g9-9grh- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-426
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBELL-CVE-2022-26488
7.0
CVE-2022-26488 does not affect BellSoft software
- Record
BELL-CVE-2022-26488- CVSS 3.1
- 7.0 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-libpython-2022-26488 No score
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.
- Record
BIT-libpython-2022-26488- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-python-2022-26488 No score
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.
- Record
BIT-python-2022-26488- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSVBIT-python-min-2022-26488 No score
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.
- Record
BIT-python-min-2022-26488- Updated
- 2026-11-02
OSV No score
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.
- Record
CVE-2022-26488- Updated
- 2026-11-10
Affected products
Affected packages
| Package | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|
libpythonBitnami |
before 3.7.13, 3.10.0 up to 3.10.3, 3.8.0 up to 3.8.13, 3.9.0 up to 3.9.11 | 3.7.133.10.33.8.133.9.11 |
pythonBitnami |
before 3.7.13, 3.10.0 up to 3.10.3, 3.8.0 up to 3.8.13, 3.9.0 up to 3.9.11 | 3.7.133.10.33.8.133.9.11 |
python-minBitnami |
before 3.7.13, 3.10.0 up to 3.10.3, 3.8.0 up to 3.8.13, 3.9.0 up to 3.9.11 | 3.7.133.10.33.8.133.9.11 |
Public exploits
Links only. Every CVE stores no exploit code.
| Source | Link | Date |
|---|---|---|
| PoC in GitHub | techspence/PyPATHPwner | 2023-04-27 |
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| facts | OSV | |
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV, PoC in GitHub |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2022-26488 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.0) in Python, published March 7, 2022. Public exploit code exists. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 1.49%, the 74th percentile. Fixed in libpython 3.7.13.
References
mail.python.org/archives/list/security-announce%40python.org/thread/657Z4XULWZNIY5FRP3OWXHYKUSIH6DMN
security.netapp.com/advisory/ntap-20220419-0005
cert-portal.siemens.com/productcert/html/ssa-398330.html
nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26488
mail.python.org/archives/list/[email protected]/thread/657Z4XULWZNIY5FRP3OWXHYKUSIH6DMN
github.com/advisories/GHSA-3f7p-x3g9-9grh
docs.bell-sw.com/security/cves/CVE-2022-26488
github.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/tree/main/cves/2022/26xxx/CVE-2022-26488.json