CVE-2017-20018Public exploit

Privilege escalation via installer DLL search hijacking

Published Jun 9, 2022 · Updated Apr 15, 2025

DLL search-order hijacking in Apache Friends XAMPP 7.1.1-0-VC14 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through its Windows installer. The installer resolves a required DLL through an uncontrolled search path and executes an attacker-planted library with its elevated token. Exploitation requires placement of the library in a searched location and a user to launch the installer, resulting in arbitrary code execution with installer privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

DLL search-order hijacking in Apache Friends XAMPP 7.1.1-0-VC14 allows local users to gain elevated privileges through its Windows installer. The installer resolves a required DLL through an uncontrolled search path and executes an attacker-planted library with its elevated token. Exploitation requires placement of the library in a searched location and a user to launch the installer, resulting in arbitrary code execution with installer privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2017-20018
Published
Jun 9, 2022
Updated
Apr 15, 2025
Vendor
Apache Friends
Product
XAMPP
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.001
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 9, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 15, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=7.1.1-0-VC14

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Apache Friends · XAMPPversion=7.1.1-0-VC14

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
4.4NIST NVDAV:L/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
6.3VulDB CNACVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.001DLL Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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