CVE-2014-6278 Technical Vulnerability Analysis & Patch Advisory (CVSS 8.8)
Executive & SecOps Summary
SECOPS ASSESSMENTSystems running unpatched versions impacted by CVE-2014-6278
GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-026 does not properly parse function definitions in the values of environment variables, which allows remote att...
Apply vendor security patches and restrict external network exposure.
Affected Products & Version Scope
Remediation & Live Workaround Commands
PATCH & WORKAROUNDRemediation Steps
- Upgrade to the latest patched release from the vendor.
- Apply virtual patching or network segmentation until maintenance windows allow full patching.
Block Kernel Privilege Escalation & Ransomware Payloads Before You Can Reboot
Protect unpatched Windows, Linux, and macOS workloads against in-memory exploitation and lateral movement with autonomous EDR.
Technical Root Cause & Exploitation Mechanics
Technical Overview
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.
- CVSS Score: 8.8 (HIGH)
- CWE IDs: CWE-78, CWE-78
Official Vendor Advisories & References
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.
Frequently Asked SecOps Questions (CVE-2014-6278)
FAQQ1. How critical is CVE-2014-6278 and is it actively exploited in the wild?
CVE-2014-6278 is rated CVSS 8.8 (HIGH) with a 30-day EPSS exploitation probability of 99.7%. It is listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, requiring immediate emergency remediation.
Q2. Which vendors and products are affected by CVE-2014-6278?
Primary impacted vendors include security-advisory across enterprise-software. Scope summary: All unpatched versions listed in the official NVD CPE configurations
Q3. What temporary mitigations or workarounds exist for CVE-2014-6278 before patching?
[Mitigation] Apply vendor security patches and restrict external network exposure. Follow the CLI remediation commands and interactive SecOps checklist on this page to restrict exposure prior to your maintenance window.
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