CVE-2022-0014

Local code execution via untrusted search path

Published Jan 12, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Untrusted search path handling in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent on Windows allows local users to execute an attacker-planted program. Live Terminal resolves a program through a search path that includes the Windows root directory and can select an attacker-created file there instead of the intended program. Exploitation requires permission to create a file in the Windows root directory and another local user to open a Live Terminal session, after which the planted program runs in that user's context.

CVSS severity6.7
Medium
EPSS probability0.25%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Untrusted search path handling in Palo Alto Networks Cortex XDR Agent on Windows allows local users to execute an attacker-planted program. Live Terminal resolves a program through a search path that includes the Windows root directory and can select an attacker-created file there instead of the intended program. Exploitation requires permission to create a file in the Windows root directory and another local user to open a Live Terminal session, after which the planted program runs in that user's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-0014
Published
Jan 12, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Palo Alto Networks
Product
Cortex XDR Agent
Classifications
CWE-426, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 12, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record 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=5.0 <5.0.12 changes=[{"at":"5.0.12","status":"unaffected"}]
  2. Affected versionversion=6.1 <6.1.9 changes=[{"at":"6.1.9","status":"unaffected"}]
  3. Affected versionversion=7.2 <7.2.4 changes=[{"at":"7.2.4","status":"unaffected"}]
  4. Affected versionversion=7.3 <7.3.2 changes=[{"at":"7.3.2","status":"unaffected"}]

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Palo Alto Networks · Cortex XDR Agentversion=5.0 <5.0.12 changes=[{"at":"5.0.12","status":"unaffected"}]; version=6.1 <6.1.9 changes=[{"at":"6.1.9","status":"unaffected"}]; version=7.2 <7.2.4 changes=[{"at":"7.2.4","status":"unaffected"}]; version=7.3 <7.3.2 changes=[{"at":"7.3.2","status":"unaffected"}]

Published CVSS scores

6.7Palo Alto NetworksCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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