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.

When the directory containing the installer does not have sufficiently restrictive file permissions, an attacker can modify (or replace) the installer to execute malicious code.

When the installation directory does not have sufficiently restrictive file permissions, an attacker can modify files in the installation directory to cause execution of malicious code.

Uncontrolled Search Path Element in Arm Development Studio before 2025 may allow an attacker to perform a DLL hijacking attack. Successful exploitation could lead to local arbitrary code execution in the context of the user running Arm Development Studio.