# CVE-2022-26488: Python 3.8 and 8 others: In Python before 3.10.3 on Windows, local users can gain privileges because the search path is inadequately…

CVE-2022-26488 is fixed in 2 products on 1 platform, first by Python 3.10 3.10.3, released March 16, 2022. 6 other affected products have no fix yet. It is not reported as exploited. Patch Radar priority: High.

- Web page: https://patchblox.com/security/cve/CVE-2022-26488
- Priority: High
- CVSS: 7.0
- EPSS: 0.0150
- CISA KEV: not listed
- Exploited (vendor report): no
- Publicly disclosed: no
- Published: Mar 10, 2022
- Vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-26488

## Description

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.

## Where it's fixed

| Platform | Product | Fixed in | Fix | Released |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Windows apps | Python 3.10 | 3.10.3 | [Python 3.10 3.10.3](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/windows-app/python.python.3.10-3.10.3.md) | Mar 16, 2022 |
| Windows apps | Python 3.11 | 3.11.1 | [Python 3.11 3.11.1](https://patchblox.com/security/data/fix/windows-app/python.python.3.11-3.11.1.md) | Dec 6, 2022 |

## No fix yet

| Platform | Product | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Windows apps | Python 2 | no-fix |
| Windows apps | Python 3.5 | no-fix |
| Windows apps | Python 3.6 | no-fix |
| Windows apps | Python 3.7 | no-fix |
| Windows apps | Python 3.8 | no-fix |
| Windows apps | Python 3.9 | no-fix |

---

Data as of 2026-11-08T00:53:09Z UTC. Source: Patchblox Patch Radar (https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar). Patchblox finds out-of-date software on Windows, macOS and Linux and updates it through release rings: https://patchblox.com/demo

Free to use with attribution: show "Data: Patchblox Patch Radar" with a link to https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar. Terms, including what needs a written agreement: https://patchblox.com/security/patch-radar/use-the-data

Product names, logos and trademarks shown on Patch Radar belong to their respective owners. They are used only to identify the software each security fix applies to and to help readers find their platform. Their use does not imply any affiliation with, or endorsement by, those owners, and Patchblox is not affiliated with any of them.