# CVE-2017-20018: XAMPP Installer uncontrolled search path

> An uncontrolled search path vulnerability in the XAMPP Installer allows remote attackers to escalate privileges.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:L/I:L/A:L`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 Jun 2022
- **Updated:** 15 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-63vx-4gcw-7q7w

## What is CVE-2017-20018?

CVE-2017-20018 is a medium-severity vulnerability in unspecified XAMPP, published on 9 Jun 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability was found in XAMPP 7.1.1-0-VC14. It has been classified as problematic. Affected is an unknown function of the component Installer. The manipulation leads to privilege escalation. It is possible to launch the attack remotely.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2017-20018?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Apachefriends Xampp.

## How do I fix CVE-2017-20018?

No fix has been published for CVE-2017-20018 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2017-20018 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-20018 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in unspecified XAMPP

- [CVE-2019-8923](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8923/): SQL injection in n/a (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2022-29376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-29376/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-11107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-11107/): Privilege escalation in n/a (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2009-0919](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-0919/): Hardcoded credentials in n/a (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2024-0338](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-0338/): Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in XAMPP (high 7.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2017-20018 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2017-20018 is a medium-severity vulnerability in unspecified XAMPP, published on 9 Jun 2022. Any signed-in user can exploit it over the network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2017-20018 exists.

Affected product: unspecified XAMPP. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-20018/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-20018/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2017-20018
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2017-20018
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2017-20018

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-20018/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.