CVE-2022-43751

System-privileged code execution via controllable search path

Published Nov 22, 2022 · Updated Apr 29, 2025

Uncontrolled search path handling in McAfee Total Protection before 16.0.49 allows local users to execute code with system privileges. The product uses a variable that points to a subdirectory without ensuring that the location is outside an unprivileged user's control. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction; successful execution runs arbitrary code with system privileges.

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

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path handling in McAfee Total Protection before 16.0.49 allows local users to execute code with system privileges. The product uses a variable that points to a subdirectory without ensuring that the location is outside an unprivileged user's control. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction; successful execution runs arbitrary code with system privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-43751
Published
Nov 22, 2022
Updated
Apr 29, 2025
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
Unavailable

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 22, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 29, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

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

7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8CISA-ADPCVSS: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
PrivilegesUnavailable
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo