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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2022-26488

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

Published Mar 10, 2022 · catalog updated Oct 14, 2026 · In Python before 3.10.3

Check if you run it

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2022-26488. EPSS is 1.49%. Act only if a listed version of In Python before 3.10.3 is installed.

Gaps on this record

  • The stored product name is a package slug. The name on this page is taken from the title (In Python before 3.10.3).
  • No vendor fix or required action is stored. Compare the linked advisory before you change production.
Severity
High7.0
Known exploitation
Not in CISA/VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
1.49%
Remediation
Advisory link
Affected products
cpe netapp/active iq unified manager · cpe python/python

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.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe netapp/active iq unified managerversion unspecified
  • cpe python/python3.11.0

How to fix CVE-2022-26488

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

No confirmed exploitation is on record for CVE-2022-26488. EPSS is 1.49%. Act only if a listed version of In Python before 3.10.3 is installed.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with 3.11.0. Compare the installed version with the linked vendor advisory before you change production.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-426: Untrusted Search Path. EPSS 1.49%. There is no CISA KEV listing. No Exploit-DB or Metasploit reference is linked. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Technology hubs

Windows security

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

No public source repository is identified for this product.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Mar 10, 2022 · NIST NVD

    Detected

    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 pat

  2. Oct 14, 2026 · NIST NVD

    Updated

    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 pat

Sources

  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2022-26488

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2022-26488

    30-day exploitation probability 1.5%

    first.org
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2022-26488

    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 al

    nvd.nist.gov

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 16, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.