CVE-2022-26183Public exploit

Code execution via Windows current-directory binary planting

Published Mar 21, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Untrusted search path handling in pnpm before 6.15.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious Windows project. When pnpm invokes tools such as Git by name, Windows searches the current working directory first, so a planted executable runs instead of the trusted binary. A victim must obtain the attacker-controlled files and run a pnpm command from that directory; the planted program then executes with the victim's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.59%
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 pnpm before 6.15.1 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through a malicious Windows project. When pnpm invokes tools such as Git by name, Windows searches the current working directory first, so a planted executable runs instead of the trusted binary. A victim must obtain the attacker-controlled files and run a pnpm command from that directory; the planted program then executes with the victim's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-26183
Published
Mar 21, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-426, CAPEC-38, T1204.002, T1574.007
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 21, 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 privilegesUnavailable in this record.

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
T1204.002Malicious File
T1574.007PATH Environment Variable 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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