CVE-2022-23853

Code execution via QProcess search-order hijacking

Published Feb 11, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Code execution in KDE Kate before 21.12.2 and KTextEditor before 5.91.0 allows attackers to run a planted binary when opening a file. QProcess receives a bare executable name and, when PATH lacks that program, searches the opened file's working directory and launches an attacker-placed binary. Exploitation requires opening a file from an attacker-writable directory while a referenced tool is missing from PATH; code runs with the user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.89%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in KDE Kate before 21.12.2 and KTextEditor before 5.91.0 allows attackers to run a planted binary when opening a file. QProcess receives a bare executable name and, when PATH lacks that program, searches the opened file's working directory and launches an attacker-placed binary. Exploitation requires opening a file from an attacker-writable directory while a referenced tool is missing from PATH; code runs with the user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-23853
Published
Feb 11, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-427, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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