USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JS: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
CVE-2026-21427 is a high-severity uncontrolled search path element vulnerability in USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JS from Pioneer, with a CVSS 4.0 base score of 8.5 out of 10. It can be exploited with local access to the system by an unauthenticated attacker, but only if a user takes part, for example by opening a link or file. Affected USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JS versions: all versions. The record does not name a fixed version, so check the vendor advisory. There is no confirmed exploitation so far. EPSS estimates a 0.18% chance of exploitation within 30 days, which is low compared with other CVEs.
High severity with no evidence of exploitation so far.
What to do
- Check which version of USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JS you run against the affected versions below, and install the vendor's latest release.
- Because the attack needs a user to take part, warn users about unexpected links and files related to this product until it is patched.
Affected products and versions
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in |
|---|---|---|---|
| PIONEER | USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JS | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JR | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JGL | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | USB DAC Amplifier APS-DA101JGR | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | Stellanova Lite APS-S201JS | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | Stellanova Lite APS-S201JR | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | Stellanova Lite APS-S201JGL | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | Stellanova Lite APS-S201JGR | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | Stellanova Limited APS-S202J-LM | all versions | Not stated |
| PIONEER | Stellanova APS-S301 series | all versions | Not stated |
Version data comes from the organisation that assigned the CVE. Confirm against the vendor advisory before deciding you are unaffected.
How the severity score breaks down
- Attack vector
- LocalThe attacker needs local access or must trick a user into running something.
- Attack complexity
- LowNo special conditions are needed; the attack works reliably.
- Attack requirements
- NoneThe attack does not depend on a particular deployment or configuration.
- Privileges required
- NoneNo account or login is needed.
- User interaction
- PassiveA user only needs to do something routine, such as viewing a page.
- Confidentiality (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of confidentiality on the vulnerable system.
- Integrity (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of integrity on the vulnerable system.
- Availability (vulnerable system)
- HighSerious loss of availability on the vulnerable system.
- Confidentiality (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of confidentiality on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Integrity (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of integrity on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
- Availability (other systems)
- NoneNo loss of availability on systems beyond the vulnerable one.
Vector: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:P/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:X/CR:X/IR:X/AR:X/MAV:X/MAC:X/MAT:X/MPR:X/MUI:X/MVC:X/MVI:X/MVA:X/MSC:X/MSI:X/MSA:X/S:X/AU:X/R:X/V:X/RE:X/U:X. Scored by CNA (jpcert.or.jp).
| Scoring system | Score | Severity | Scored by |
|---|---|---|---|
| CVSS 4.0 | 8.5 | High | CNA (jpcert.or.jp) |
| CVSS 3.0 | 7.8 | High | CNA (jpcert.or.jp) |
Official description
The installers for multiple products provided by PIONEER CORPORATION contain an issue with the DLL search path, which may lead to insecurely loading Dynamic Link Libraries. As a result, arbitrary code may be executed with the privileges of the running installer.
Source: the CVE record as published by its numbering authority, via NVD and CVE.org.
The underlying weakness: Uncontrolled Search Path Element
The product uses a fixed or controlled search path to find resources, but one or more locations in that path can be under the control of unintended actors.
How developers prevent this class of flaw
- Hard-code the search path to a set of known-safe values (such as system directories), or only allow them to be specified by the administrator in a configuration file. Do not allow these settings to be modified by an external party. Be careful to avoid related weaknesses such as CWE-426 and CWE-428.
- When invoking other programs, specify those programs using fully-qualified pathnames. While this is an effective approach, code that uses fully-qualified pathnames might not be portable to other systems that do not use the same pathnames. The portability can be improved by locating the full-qualified paths in a centralized, easily-modifiable location within the source code, and having the code refer to these paths.
- Remove or restrict all environment settings before invoking other programs. This includes the PATH environment variable, LD_LIBRARY_PATH, and other settings that identify the location of code libraries, and any application-specific search paths.
More Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities (CWE-427)
Timeline
- CVE record published.
- CISA published its SSVC assessment (exploitation: none, automatable: no, technical impact: total).
- Record last changed materially (score, affected products, status or references).
References
Recent Uncontrolled Search Path Element vulnerabilities
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.1 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 8.6 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
- 7.8 High severity
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