CVE-2022-37172

Local code execution via writable install directory

Published Aug 30, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Improper access control in MSYS2 20220603 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code by replacing installed binaries. The installer creates C:\msys64 with inherited Windows permissions instead of restricting write access, leaving executable files replaceable by non-administrative accounts. A local authenticated user who can write there can plant a binary that runs with another account's privileges when that account later launches the affected program.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.23%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper access control in MSYS2 20220603 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code by replacing installed binaries. The installer creates C:\msys64 with inherited Windows permissions instead of restricting write access, leaving executable files replaceable by non-administrative accounts. A local authenticated user who can write there can plant a binary that runs with another account's privileges when that account later launches the affected program.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-37172
Published
Aug 30, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 30, 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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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.

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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
Privilegesauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1574Hijack Execution Flow

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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