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Vulnerabilities/CVE-2022-26488Public Intelligence Dossier
Source: python · Limited verification•Last verified: •Collection Degraded
CVE-2022-26488Unknown / EvaluatingHIGH (raw)CVSS 7.0CWE-426

In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is inadequately secured

Published: 10 Mar 2022•Last updated: 14 Oct 2026, 10:47 PM IST•Source identifier: cve@mitre.org
Dossier completeness: source-provided sections 2 / 3 · rule guidance available. Missing source facts count as incomplete.
Official source
CISA KEV catalog
Unknown
KEV status was not determined.
CVSS score
7.0HIGH (raw)
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Metric sourcenvd@nist.gov
EPSS probability
1.5%0.015
Percentile74th
Weakness type
CWE-426
No further CWE recorded
Remediation
Patch status unknown
No fixed version or KB recorded

Why It Matters

Analysis dossier

Why It Matters

In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is inadequately secured. The installer may allow a local attacker to add user-writable directories to the system search path. To exploit, an administrator must have installed Python for all users and enabled PATH entries. A non-administrative user can trigger a repair that incorrectly adds user-writable paths into PATH, enabling search-path hijacking of other users and system services. This affects Python (CPython) through 3.7.12, 3.8.x through 3.8.12, 3.9.x through 3.9.10, and 3.10.x through 3.10.2.

SOC priority

High

Actively exploited

Unknown

Publicly disclosed

Unknown

Risk basis: Microsoft or Microsoft-managed product relevance; HIGH severity; No confirmed exploitation signal in current enrichment

Affected Products & Remediation

3 source-backed products
Affected products and versions (source)
  • python python · <= 3.7.12; >= 3.8.0 <= 3.8.12; >= 3.9.0 <= 3.9.10; >= 3.10.0 <= 3.10.2; 3.11.0 · NVD CPE · Source
  • netapp active iq unified manager · version range not provided by source · NVD CPE · Source
  • netapp ontap select deploy administration utility · version range not provided by source · NVD CPE · Source
NVD applicability prerequisites: cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*. These are conditions, not proof that an environment is exposed or unaffected.
Recorded patch / KBNot provided by source

Vendor or catalog guidance (source)

Not provided by source

Known exploitation (source facts)

Only what a source states. Unknown means no source has said either way; it is not "not exploited".

CISA KEV
Unknown
Exploited (source statement)
Unknown
Publicly disclosed (source)
Unknown

Suggested hunting (rule-based inference)

SecOps Signal recommendation (rule-based inference). These steps are hunting hypotheses from the vulnerability class; they do not state or imply that exploitation occurred here or anywhere.

Matched local-privilege-escalation (CVSS AV:L, CVSS PR:L)

Exposure

  1. Identify hosts reporting this CVE, prioritising shared or multi-user systems.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · A local, low-privilege vector matters most where untrusted users can run code. · Rule local-privilege-escalation

Exploitation evidence

  1. Look for low-privileged processes spawning SYSTEM or root-level child processes on affected hosts.Telemetry: DeviceProcessEvents · Hunting hypothesis from the CVSS vector; privilege transitions are a focused starting point, not evidence of attack. · Rule local-privilege-escalation

Response

  1. Confirm the source-stated update on affected hosts.Telemetry: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities · Host inventory can verify remediation. · Rule local-privilege-escalation

CISA KEV Record

CISA KEV status was not determined for this record.

Change History & Source Data

— No recorded material change

CNA / source
cve@mitre.org
Record status · verification
UPDATED · NVD API
CPE
cpe:2.3:a:python:python:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.11.0:alpha1:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.11.0:alpha2:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.11.0:alpha3:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.11.0:alpha4:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.11.0:alpha5:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:python:python:3.11.0:alpha6:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:netapp:active_iq_unified_manager:-:*:*:*:*:windows:*:*, cpe:2.3:a:netapp:ontap_select_deploy_administration_utility:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

Evidence & Provenance

3 public sources
nvd.nist.govSource recordmail.python.orgSource recordsecurity.netapp.comSource record

Linked by the query's stored exact CVE association. Review required tables and validation status before use.

Detection Hunting Query
Target: DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities•Defender XDR
Detect endpoints exposed to CVE-2022-26488
Purpose: Exposure assessment (Category: Exposure Check)Why linked: Query metadata names CVE-2022-26488
DeviceTvmSoftwareVulnerabilities| where CveId == "CVE-2022-26488"| project DeviceId, DeviceName, OSPlatform, OSVersion, SoftwareVendor, SoftwareName, SoftwareVersion, CveId, VulnerabilitySeverityLevel, RecommendedSecurityUpdate, RecommendedSecurityUpdateId| sort by VulnerabilitySeverityLevel desc
Schema Checked · Not runtime validatedSource: SecOps Signal deterministic template · Limited verificationStatic screening: Passed structure and schema checks; tenant execution is not verified.
Open KQL Library

Correlated briefings

— No published briefing references this CVE

SecOps Signal surfaces public advisory facts only. A missing value means the source has not published it, not that your environment is unaffected. No tenant inventory is connected.