CVE-2025-0459

Local code execution via untrusted DLL search

Published Jan 14, 2025 · Updated Jan 14, 2025

Untrusted DLL search in Libretro RetroArch 1.19.0 and 1.19.1 on Windows allows local users to run code during application startup. RetroArch resolves profapi.dll through an untrusted search path during startup, allowing an attacker-supplied library to be selected. Local access and placement of a crafted DLL in a searched location are required; the public record does not identify that location or the loaded code's privileges.

CVSS severity4.8
Medium
EPSS probability0.19%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Untrusted DLL search in Libretro RetroArch 1.19.0 and 1.19.1 on Windows allows local users to run code during application startup. RetroArch resolves profapi.dll through an untrusted search path during startup, allowing an attacker-supplied library to be selected. Local access and placement of a crafted DLL in a searched location are required; the public record does not identify that location or the loaded code's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-0459
Published
Jan 14, 2025
Updated
Jan 14, 2025
Vendor
Libretro
Product
RetroArch
Classifications
CWE-426, CAPEC-38, T1574.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 14, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 14, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=1.19.0
  2. Affected versionversion=1.19.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Libretro · RetroArchversion=1.19.0; version=1.19.1

Published CVSS scores

5.3VulDBCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
5.3VulDBCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L
4.3VulDBAV:L/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P
4.8VulDBCVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:L/VA:L/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

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

CWE-426Untrusted Search Path
CAPEC-38Leveraging/Manipulating Configuration File Search Paths
T1574.002Hijack Execution Flow: DLL Side-Loading

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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