CVE-2014-6278

Exp

GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-026 does not properly parse function definitions in the values of environment variables, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted environment, as demonstrated by vectors involving the ForceCommand feature in OpenSSH sshd, the mod_cgi and mod_cgid modules in the Apache HTTP Server, scripts executed by unspecified DHCP clients, and other situations in which setting the environment occurs across a privilege boundary from Bash execution. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-6271, CVE-2014-7169, and CVE-2014-6277.

Published: 2014-09-30 Last update: 2026-04-22 Assigner: [email protected] Source: [email protected]
NVD Status：Analyzed，CVE State: published
View at NVD, CVE.org, EUVD

CVE-2014-6278 is rated Critical Active Threat (94.9/100): CVSS High severity, with high exploitation likelihood (EPSS 91.69%, 100th percentile). CISA KEV confirms active exploitation (added 2025-10-02) affecting GNU / GNU Bash. a weakness (CWE-78) Unauthenticated remote administrative access may be possible. The CISA remediation deadline has passed—treat as an emergency patch priority.

Risk is dynamic; we continuously reassess and refresh what is shown on this page as upstream context changes.

CISA KEV Record for CVE-2014-6278

Name: GNU Bash OS Command Injection Vulnerability · CISA KEV detail

Exploit added: 2025-10-02

Action due: 2025-10-23

Required action: Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.

Public exploit references (Exploit-DB) for CVE-2014-6278

EDB-ID Source Kind Published Link
39887 exploit_db edb 2016-06-06 Exploit-DB ↗
39568 exploit_db edb 2016-03-16 Exploit-DB ↗
34900 exploit_db edb 2014-10-06 Exploit-DB ↗
34860 exploit_db edb 2014-10-02 Exploit-DB ↗
36933 exploit_db edb 2014-09-29 Exploit-DB ↗

Exploit prediction scoring system (EPSS) score for CVE-2014-6278

EPSS lead: Daily EPSS estimates relative likelihood of exploitation; percentile ranks this CVE among scored vulnerabilities (higher = more severe relative rank).

# Date Old EPSS score New EPSS score Delta (New - Old)
1 2026-05-24 91.88% 91.69% -0.18%
2 2026-05-22 91.40% 91.88% +0.48%
3 2026-04-23 — 91.40% —

Full EPSS history (25 records total)

Common vulnerability scoring system (CVSS) metrics for CVE-2014-6278

CVSS metrics for this CVE.

Base score Version Severity Vector Exploitability Impact Score source
8.8 3.1 HIGH
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H Click to expand
Attack vector (AV:N)
Could be attacked over the internet or any normal routed network—not just someone sitting at the machine.
Attack complexity (AC:L)
Once they can reach the bug, pulling it off is straightforward—no weird race conditions or rare setup.
Privileges required (PR:N)
No account or special rights needed—anonymous or random user is enough.
User interaction (UI:R)
A real person has to do something—click, install, enable—otherwise it doesn’t land.
Scope (S:U)
Damage stays in the same “trust bubble” as the broken component—no big spill into unrelated systems.
Confidentiality (C:H)
Serious risk that confidential data gets exposed in a big way.
Integrity (I:H)
They could widely tamper with or forge data—trust in the data is badly hurt.
Availability (A:H)
Could take the service down hard or make it unusable for people who depend on it.
 2.8 5.9 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
10.0 2.0 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C Click to expand
Access vector (AV:N)
Can be exploited remotely over network reachability.
Access complexity (AC:L)
Exploitation conditions are straightforward and predictable.
Authentication (AU:N)
No authentication is required.
Confidentiality impact (C:C)
Complete confidentiality impact.
Integrity impact (I:C)
Complete integrity impact.
Availability impact (A:C)
Complete availability impact.
 10.0 10.0 [email protected]

Weakness enumeration for CVE-2014-6278

OS Trackers for CVE-2014-6278

vendor priority summary link
debian high CVE-2014-6278 high priority: Debian including 1 source packages (bash), 5 status rows across 5 suites (bookworm, bullseye, forky, sid, trixie): resolved 5. https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-6278
gentoo high CVE-2014-6278: 1 GLSA(s) (201410-01), 1 atom(s) (app-shells/bash); latest impact high. https://bugs.gentoo.org/buglist.cgi?quicksearch=CVE-2014-6278
redhat — — https://access.redhat.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-6278
suse high CVE-2014-6278 severity important: SUSE including 109 source package names (Containment-Studio-SLE11_SP1-4.85.108-20141006120850, Containment-Studio-SLE11_SP3-5.04.108-20141006122525, …), 223 product×package rows across 50 product lines (HPE Helion OpenStack 8, SUSE Linux Enterprise Desktop 12 SP1, … (50 product lines)): Fixed 147, Known Not Affected 76. https://www.suse.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-6278/
ubuntu medium CVE-2014-6278 medium priority: Ubuntu including 1 source packages (bash), 4 status rows across 4 suites (lucid, precise, trusty, upstream): released 3, needs-triage 1. https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2014-6278

Affected software / configurations for CVE-2014-6278

Vendor Product Version Raw CPE
gnu bash 1.14.0 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 1.14.1 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 1.14.2 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 1.14.3 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 1.14.4 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.4:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 1.14.5 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.5:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 1.14.6 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.6:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 1.14.7 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:1.14.7:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.0 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.01 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.01:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.01.1 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.01.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.02 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.02:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.02.1 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.02.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.03 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.03:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.04 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.04:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.05 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.05:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.05 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.05:a:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 2.05 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:2.05:b:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 3.0 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:3.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 3.0.16 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:3.0.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 3.1 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:3.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 3.2 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:3.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 3.2.48 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:3.2.48:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 4.0 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:4.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 4.0 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:4.0:rc1:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 4.1 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:4.1:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 4.2 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:4.2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
gnu bash 4.3 cpe:2.3:a:gnu:bash:4.3:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

References for CVE-2014-6278

URL Tags
http://jvn.jp/en/jp/JVN55667175/index.html Third Party Advisory
http://jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/JVNDB-2014-000126 Third Party Advisory
http://lcamtuf.blogspot.com/2014/09/bash-bug-apply-unofficial-patch-now.html Patch Third Party Advisory
http://lcamtuf.blogspot.com/2014/10/bash-bug-how-we-finally-cracked.html Third Party Advisory
http://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2014-3093 Third Party Advisory
http://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2014-3094 Third Party Advisory
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-security-announce/2014-10/msg00004.html Mailing List
http://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-updates/2014-10/msg00025.html Mailing List
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141330468527613&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141345648114150&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141383026420882&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141383081521087&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141383196021590&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141383244821813&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141383304022067&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141383353622268&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141383465822787&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141450491804793&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141576728022234&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141577137423233&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141577241923505&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141577297623641&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141585637922673&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=141879528318582&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142118135300698&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142358026505815&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142358078406056&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://marc.info/?l=bugtraq&m=142721162228379&w=2 Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/128567/CA-Technologies-GNU-Bash-Shellshock.html Third Party Advisory
http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/137344/Sun-Secure-Global-Desktop-Oracle-Global-Desktop-Shellshock.html Third Party Advisory
http://secunia.com/advisories/58200 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/59907 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/59961 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60024 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60034 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60044 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60055 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60063 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60193 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60325 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/60433 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61065 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61128 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61129 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61283 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61287 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61291 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61312 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61313 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61328 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61442 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61471 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61485 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61503 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61550 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61552 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61565 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61603 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61633 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61641 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61643 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61654 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61703 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61780 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61816 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/61857 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/62312 Broken Link
http://secunia.com/advisories/62343 Third Party Advisory
http://support.novell.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-6278.html Third Party Advisory
http://tools.cisco.com/security/center/content/CiscoSecurityAdvisory/cisco-sa-20140926-bash Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg3T1021272 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg3T1021279 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=isg3T1021361 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1004879 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1004897 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1004898 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1004915 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21685541 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21685604 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21685733 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21685749 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21685914 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21686131 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21686246 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21686445 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21686479 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21686494 Third Party Advisory
http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21687079 Third Party Advisory
http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5096315 Third Party Advisory
http://www.mandriva.com/security/advisories?name=MDVSA-2015:164 Third Party Advisory
http://www.novell.com/support/kb/doc.php?id=7015721 Third Party Advisory
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bashcve-2014-7169-2317675.html Third Party Advisory
http://www.qnap.com/i/en/support/con_show.php?cid=61 Third Party Advisory
http://www.ubuntu.com/usn/USN-2380-1 Third Party Advisory
http://www.vmware.com/security/advisories/VMSA-2014-0010.html Third Party Advisory
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1147414 Third Party Advisory
https://kb.bluecoat.com/index?page=content&id=SA82 Third Party Advisory
https://kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10648 Third Party Advisory
https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10085 Third Party Advisory
https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-6278 Third Party Advisory
https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX200217 Third Party Advisory
https://support.citrix.com/article/CTX200223 Third Party Advisory
https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/15000/600/sol15629.html Third Party Advisory
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-c04497075 Third Party Advisory
https://support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-c04518183 Third Party Advisory
https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk102673&src=securityAlerts Third Party Advisory
https://www.arista.com/en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisories/1008-security-advisory-0006 Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39568/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39887/ Third Party Advisory
https://www.suse.com/support/shellshock/ Vendor Advisory
https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-6278 US Government Resource
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