# CVE-2021-38410: AVEVA PCS Portal Uncontrolled Search Path Element

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code via DLL hijacking in AVEVA PCS Portal by exploiting an uncontrolled search path element.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 27 Jul 2022
- **Updated:** 17 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-w785-44wh-9wr3

## What is CVE-2021-38410?

CVE-2021-38410 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in AVEVA Platform Common Services (PCS) Portal, published on 27 Jul 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

AVEVA Software Platform Common Services (PCS) Portal versions 4.5.2, 4.5.1, 4.5.0, and 4.4.6 are vulnerable to DLL hijacking through an uncontrolled search path element, which may allow an attacker control to one or more locations in the search path.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-38410?

It affects 7 products.


Products: Aveva Batch Management, Aveva Enterprise Data Management, Aveva Manufacturing Execution System, Aveva Mobile Operator, Aveva Platform Common Services, Aveva System Platform, Aveva Work Tasks.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-38410?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-38410 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-38410 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38410 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in AVEVA Platform Common Services (PCS) Portal

- [CVE-2023-33873](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-33873/): AVEVA Operations Control Logger Execution with Unnecessary Privileges (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2023-34982](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-34982/): AVEVA Operations Control Logger External Control of File Name or Path (medium 5.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-38410 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-38410 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in AVEVA Platform Common Services (PCS) Portal, published on 27 Jul 2022. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-38410 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: AVEVA Platform Common Services (PCS) Portal. 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-2021-38410/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38410/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-38410
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-38410
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-38410

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-38410/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.