CVE-2026-35603 | Anthropic claude-code up to 2.1.74 on Windows Configuration managed-settings.json untrusted search path (GHSA-5cwg-9f6j-9jvx)
VulDBArchived Apr 18, 2026✓ Full text saved
A vulnerability described as problematic has been identified in Anthropic claude-code up to 2.1.74 on Windows. Impacted is an unknown function of the file C:\ProgramData\ClaudeCode\managed-settings.json of the component Configuration Handler . Executing a manipulation can lead to untrusted search path. This vulnerability is tracked as CVE-2026-35603 . The attack is restricted to local execution. No exploit exists. Upgrading the affected component is recommended.
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✦ AI Summary· Claude Sonnet
VDB-358133 · CVE-2026-35603 · GHSA-5CWG-9F6J-9JVX
ANTHROPIC CLAUDE-CODE UP TO 2.1.74 ON WINDOWS CONFIGURATION MANAGED-SETTINGS.JSON UNTRUSTED SEARCH PATH
HISTORYDIFFRELATEJSONXMLCTI
CVSS Meta Temp Score Current Exploit Price (≈) CTI Interest Score
6.7 $0-$5k 3.13+
Summaryinfo
A vulnerability classified as problematic has been found in Anthropic claude-code up to 2.1.74 on Windows. The affected element is an unknown function of the file C:\ProgramData\ClaudeCode\managed-settings.json of the component Configuration Handler. The manipulation leads to untrusted search path. This vulnerability is listed as CVE-2026-35603. The attack must be carried out locally. There is no available exploit. It is recommended to upgrade the affected component.
Detailsinfo
A vulnerability was found in Anthropic claude-code up to 2.1.74 on Windows and classified as critical. This issue affects some unknown processing of the file C:\ProgramData\ClaudeCode\managed-settings.json of the component Configuration Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a untrusted search path vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-426. The product searches for critical resources using an externally-supplied search path that can point to resources that are not under the product's direct control. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The summary by CVE is:
Claude Code is an agentic coding tool. In versions prior to 2.1.75 on Windows, Claude Code loaded the system-wide default configuration from C:\ProgramData\ClaudeCode\managed-settings.json without validating directory ownership or access permissions. Because the ProgramData directory is writable by non-administrative users by default and the ClaudeCode subdirectory was not pre-created or access-restricted, a low-privileged local user could create this directory and place a malicious configuration file that would be automatically loaded for any user launching Claude Code on the same machine. Exploiting this would have required a shared multi-user Windows system and a victim user to launch Claude Code after the malicious configuration was placed. This issue has been fixed on version 2.1.75.
The advisory is shared at github.com. The identification of this vulnerability is CVE-2026-35603 since 04/03/2026. The exploitation is known to be difficult. An attack has to be approached locally. Technical details are known, but no exploit is available. MITRE ATT&CK project uses the attack technique T1574 for this issue.
By approaching the search of inurl:C:\ProgramData\ClaudeCode\managed-settings.json it is possible to find vulnerable targets with Google Hacking.
Upgrading to version 2.1.75 eliminates this vulnerability.
Productinfo
Type
Artificial Intelligence Software
Vendor
Anthropic
Name
claude-code
Version
2.1.0
2.1.1
2.1.2
2.1.3
2.1.4
2.1.5
2.1.6
2.1.7
2.1.8
2.1.9
2.1.10
2.1.11
2.1.12
2.1.13
2.1.14
2.1.15
2.1.16
2.1.17
2.1.18
2.1.19
2.1.20
2.1.21
2.1.22
2.1.23
2.1.24
2.1.25
2.1.26
2.1.27
2.1.28
2.1.29
2.1.30
2.1.31
2.1.32
2.1.33
2.1.34
2.1.35
2.1.36
2.1.37
2.1.38
2.1.39
2.1.40
2.1.41
2.1.42
2.1.43
2.1.44
2.1.45
2.1.46
2.1.47
2.1.48
2.1.49
2.1.50
2.1.51
2.1.52
2.1.53
2.1.54
2.1.55
2.1.56
2.1.57
2.1.58
2.1.59
2.1.60
2.1.61
2.1.62
2.1.63
2.1.64
2.1.65
2.1.66
2.1.67
2.1.68
2.1.69
2.1.70
2.1.71
2.1.72
2.1.73
2.1.74
CPE 2.3info
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CPE 2.2info
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CVSSv4info
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CNA CVSS-B Score: 🔒
CNA CVSS-BT Score: 🔒
CNA Vector: 🔒
CVSSv3info
VulDB Meta Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Meta Temp Score: 6.7
VulDB Base Score: 7.0
VulDB Temp Score: 6.7
VulDB Vector: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
CVSSv2info
Vector Complexity Authentication Confidentiality Integrity Availability
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VulDB Base Score: 🔒
VulDB Temp Score: 🔒
VulDB Reliability: 🔍
Exploitinginfo
Class: Untrusted search path
CWE: CWE-426
CAPEC: 🔒
ATT&CK: 🔒
Physical: Partially
Local: Yes
Remote: Partially
Availability: 🔒
Status: Not defined
Google Hack: 🔒
Price Prediction: 🔍
Current Price Estimation: 🔒
0-Day Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock
Today Unlock Unlock Unlock Unlock
Threat Intelligenceinfo
Interest: 🔍
Active Actors: 🔍
Active APT Groups: 🔍
Countermeasuresinfo
Recommended: Upgrade
Status: 🔍
0-Day Time: 🔒
Upgrade: claude-code 2.1.75
Timelineinfo
04/03/2026 CVE reserved
04/17/2026 +14 days Advisory disclosed
04/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry created
04/17/2026 +0 days VulDB entry last update
Sourcesinfo
Advisory: GHSA-5cwg-9f6j-9jvx
Status: Confirmed
CVE: CVE-2026-35603 (🔒)
GCVE (CVE): GCVE-0-2026-35603
GCVE (VulDB): GCVE-100-358133
Entryinfo
Created: 04/17/2026 23:52
Changes: 04/17/2026 23:52 (71)
Complete: 🔍
Cache ID: 99:65C:101
Discussion
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