# CVE-2026-6645: Insecure Search Path Vulnerability in PaperCut Print Deploy Client for Windows

> Local attackers can execute arbitrary code with SYSTEM privileges by exploiting an insecure search path in the PaperCut Print Deploy Client updater.

- **Severity:** High 7.3 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:P/PR:L/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:H/SI:H/SA: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:** 22 Jun 2026
- **Updated:** 23 Jun 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-7rjc-r662-4qm8

## What is CVE-2026-6645?

CVE-2026-6645 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in PaperCut Print Deploy, published on 22 Jun 2026. 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

An insecure process execution vulnerability exists in the pc-printer-updater.exe component of the PaperCut Print Deploy Client for Windows. The application, which typically operates with high-level system privileges, attempts to perform an internal validation check by invoking a secondary system utility using an unqualified file reference.

Because the application does not specify an absolute path to this utility, it relies on the operating system's default search order to locate the executable. Under specific conditions, a local attacker with the ability to modify directories within the system's search path could plant a malicious binary that mimics the expected utility. This could result in the malicious code being executed with SYSTEM privileges, leading to a full compromise of the affected host.

Weakness: CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-6645?


## How do I fix CVE-2026-6645?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-6645 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-6645 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-6645 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-6645 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-6645 is a high-severity path traversal vulnerability in PaperCut Print Deploy, published on 22 Jun 2026. 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-2026-6645 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: PaperCut Print Deploy. 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-2026-6645/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6645/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-6645
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-6645
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-6645

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-6645/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.