Known exploited vulnerability
CVE-2014-6278
The short answer
CVE-2014-6278 affects n/a n/a and is rated high (CVSS 8.8). CISA added it to the Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-10-02: attackers are using it, so patch it first.
What it is
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.
Weakness: CWE-78.
Severity
8.8 high
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Exploited (CISA KEV)
Yes, since Oct 2, 2025
Federal due date Oct 23, 2025
EPSS, next 30 days
100%
Higher than 100% of scored CVEs
How it can be exploited
- Attack vector
- Network
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Scope
- Unchanged
- Confidentiality impact
- High
- Integrity impact
- High
- Availability impact
- High
What CISA says to do
Apply mitigations per vendor instructions, follow applicable BOD 22-01 guidance for cloud services, or discontinue use of the product if mitigations are unavailable.
Affected products
n/a. NVD's record lists the exact affected versions.
References
- bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1147414 Third Party Advisory
- kb.bluecoat.com/index?page=content&id=SA82 Third Party Advisory
- kb.juniper.net/InfoCenter/index?page=content&id=JSA10648 Third Party Advisory
- kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10085 Third Party Advisory
- security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-6278 Third Party Advisory
- support.citrix.com/article/CTX200217 Third Party Advisory
- support.citrix.com/article/CTX200223 Third Party Advisory
- support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/15000/600/sol15629.html Third Party Advisory
- support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-c04497075 Third Party Advisory
- support.hpe.com/hpsc/doc/public/display?docLocale=en_US&docId=emr_na-c04518183 Third Party Advisory
- supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk102673&src=securityAlerts Third Party Advisory
- www.arista.com/en/support/advisories-notices/security-advisories/1008-security-advisory-0006 Third Party Advisory
Questions
Is CVE-2014-6278 being exploited?
Yes. CISA added CVE-2014-6278 to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog on 2025-10-02, with a federal remediation due date of 2025-10-23.
How do I fix CVE-2014-6278?
CISA's 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.
From NVD, CISA KEV, FIRST EPSS and OSV.dev, checked . Status on NVD: Analyzed. The description is NVD's text, quoted as published.
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