CVE-2022-25255

Local code execution via current-directory binary search

Published Feb 16, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Executable search-path hijacking in Qt 5.9.0 through 5.15.8 and 6.0.0 through 6.2.3 allows local users to execute code. Unix QProcess retains the bare program name when QStandardPaths::findExecutable returns empty, causing execve to resolve a same-named file from the working directory. Exploitation requires an application to launch a bare name absent from PATH and a local user able to place that file in its working directory; the file runs with the application's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Executable search-path hijacking in Qt 5.9.0 through 5.15.8 and 6.0.0 through 6.2.3 allows local users to execute code. Unix QProcess retains the bare program name when QStandardPaths::findExecutable returns empty, causing execve to resolve a same-named file from the working directory. Exploitation requires an application to launch a bare name absent from PATH and a local user able to place that file in its working directory; the file runs with the application's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-25255
Published
Feb 16, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1574.007
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 16, 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 privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.2NVDAV:L/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1574.007Path Interception by PATH Environment Variable

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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