CVE-2023-6338

Local privilege escalation via uncontrolled search path

Published Jan 3, 2024 · Updated Jun 3, 2025

Uncontrolled search path flaws in Lenovo Universal Device Client before 23.10 allow local users to execute code with elevated privileges. Lenovo has not disclosed which executable or library lookup uses an attacker-controlled directory, only that an incomplete earlier fix left the search path uncontrolled. Local low-privileged access is required, and successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied code with the service's elevated privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.21%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search path flaws in Lenovo Universal Device Client before 23.10 allow local users to execute code with elevated privileges. Lenovo has not disclosed which executable or library lookup uses an attacker-controlled directory, only that an incomplete earlier fix left the search path uncontrolled. Local low-privileged access is required, and successful exploitation runs attacker-supplied code with the service's elevated privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-6338
Published
Jan 3, 2024
Updated
Jun 3, 2025
Vendor
Lenovo
Product
Universal Device Client
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 3, 2024CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jun 3, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected version<23.10

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Lenovo · Universal Device Client<23.10

Published CVSS scores

7.8Lenovo Group Ltd.CVSS: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 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

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

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Your stack

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