# CVE-2022-43703: Incomplete verification of installation file signature

> Attackers can execute malicious code by placing substitute files in the installer's search path, affecting Arm development tools.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/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:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 27 Jul 2023
- **Updated:** 13 Feb 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-hpg6-hp9w-vxqp

## What is CVE-2022-43703?

CVE-2022-43703 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Arm Compiler 5 (AC5), Arm Compiler for Embedded 6 (AC6), Fast Models (FM), Arm Compiler for Embedded FuSA (ACEF), Arm Development Studio (ADS), Arm Forge (AF), Arm Mobile Studio (AMS), DS-5 Development Studio, Fast Models (FM), GNU Toolchain (GT), Keil MDK (KMDK), Mbed Studio (MS), published on 27 Jul 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

An installer that loads or executes files using an unconstrained search path may be vulnerable to substitute files under control of an attacker being loaded or executed instead of the intended files.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2022-43703?

It affects 2 products.


Products: Arm Arm Development Studio, Arm Ds Development Studio.

## How do I fix CVE-2022-43703?

No fix has been published for CVE-2022-43703 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2022-43703 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-43703 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Arm Compiler 5 (AC5), Arm Compiler for Embedded 6 (AC6), Fast Models (FM), Arm Compiler for Embedded FuSA (ACEF), Arm Development Studio (ADS), Arm Forge (AF), Arm Mobile Studio (AMS), DS-5 Development Studio, Fast Models (FM), GNU Toolchain (GT), Keil MDK (KMDK), Mbed Studio (MS)

- [CVE-2025-7427](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-7427/): Uncontrolled Search Path Element in Arm Development Studio before 2025 (medium 5.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2022-43703 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2022-43703 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in Arm Compiler 5 (AC5), Arm Compiler for Embedded 6 (AC6), Fast Models (FM), Arm Compiler for Embedded FuSA (ACEF), Arm Development Studio (ADS), Arm Forge (AF), Arm Mobile Studio (AMS), DS-5 Development Studio, Fast Models (FM), GNU Toolchain (GT), Keil MDK (KMDK), Mbed Studio (MS), published on 27 Jul 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2022-43703 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Arm Compiler 5 (AC5), Arm Compiler for Embedded 6 (AC6), Fast Models (FM), Arm Compiler for Embedded FuSA (ACEF), Arm Development Studio (ADS), Arm Forge (AF), Arm Mobile Studio (AMS), DS-5 Development Studio, Fast Models (FM), GNU Toolchain (GT), Keil MDK (KMDK), Mbed Studio (MS). 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-2022-43703/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43703/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2022-43703
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2022-43703
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2022-43703

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-43703/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.