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CVE-2022-26488

In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is...

7.0 HighPublic exploitFix available

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

1.49%Up 0.6 points since Mar 8, 2022
90%50%10%1%

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 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0
4.4 MediumAV: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 HighCVSS: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 HighCVSS: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

Affected packages
PackageAffectedFixed
libpython
Bitnami
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
Bitnami
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-min
Bitnami
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.

Public exploits
SourceLinkDate
PoC in GitHubtechspence/PyPATHPwner2023-04-27

History

History
RecordedChangedSources
factsOSV
first indexedCVE 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

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