Command injection in Bash - CVE-2014-6278

 

Command injection in Bash - CVE-2014-6278

Published: January 24, 2017 / Updated: October 2, 2025


Vulnerability identifier: #VU5322
CSH Severity: Critical
CVSS v4: 9.3 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:N/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N]
CVE-ID: CVE-2014-6278
CWE-ID: CWE-77
Exploitation vector: Remote access
Exploit availability: The vulnerability is being exploited in the wild

Vulnerability details

The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.

The weakness exists due to an incomplete fix related to the parsing of user scripts. By using attack vectors involving the ForceCommand feature in OpenSSH sshd, the mod_cgi and mod_cgid modules in the Apache HTTP Server, a remote attacker can execute arbitrary code with privileges of the current user. The vulnerability was introduced by incorrect patching of vulnerabilities #1 (CVE-2014-6271),  #2 (CVE-2014-7169) and #3 (CVE-2014-6277)

Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution on the vulnerable system.

Note: this vulnerability was being actively exploited.


Affected software

Bash
ProtecTIER Entry Edition (PID 5639-PTC) - TS7610 / TS7620
ProtecTIER Appliance Edition (PID 5639-PTB) - TS7650AP1
ProtecTIER Enterprise Edition (PID 5639-PTA) - TS7650G
IBM BladeCenter Advanced Management Module
Gentoo Linux
Ubuntu
StoreAll OS
StoreEver ESL G3 Tape Library
Automation Insight
Virtualization Performance Viewer
TippingPoint Next Generation Firewall
Operations Analytics
HP Business Service Automation Essentials
Operations Agent Virtual Appliance
FlashSystem V840 9846-AE1 & 9848-AE1
FlashSystem 840 9840-AE1 & 9843-AE1
Hyper-Scale Manager
Integrity SD2 CB900s i4 & i2
NonStop Virtual TapeServer (VTS)
FlashSystem V840 9846-AC0 & -AC1 and 9848-AC0 & -AC1
bash (Alpine package)
FOS Firmware
IBM Storwize V3500
IBM Storwize V3700
IBM Storwize V7000
IBM Storwize V5000

How to mitigate CVE-2014-6278

Update GNU Bash to version 4.3 bash43-027.

TippingPoint Next Generation Firewall - update to 1.1.0.4153
bash (Alpine package) - update to 4.3.30-r0
IBM BladeCenter Advanced Management Module - update to BPET68C-3.68C
FlashSystem V840 9846-AE1 & 9848-AE1 - update to 1.1.2.7
FlashSystem 840 9840-AE1 & 9843-AE1 - update to 1.1.2.7
Hyper-Scale Manager - update to 1.5.0.59
Integrity SD2 CB900s i4 & i2 - update to 3.8.0
FOS Firmware - addressed in versions 6.2.2f9, 6.4.2a3, 6.4.3f3, 7.0.0d1, 7.0.2e1, 7.1.0cb, 7.1.1c1, 7.1.2b1, 7.2.0d6, 7.2.1c1
StoreAll OS - addressed in versions 6.3.4, 6.5.5
NonStop Virtual TapeServer (VTS) - addressed in versions 6.04.05, 8.3, 8.4
IBM Storwize V3500 - addressed in versions 7.1.0.11, 7.2.0.9, 7.3.0.7
IBM Storwize V3700 - addressed in versions 7.1.0.11, 7.2.0.9, 7.3.0.7
IBM Storwize V7000 - addressed in versions 7.1.0.11, 7.2.0.9
IBM Storwize V5000 - addressed in versions 7.1.0.11, 7.2.0.9, 7.3.0.7
FlashSystem V840 9846-AC0 & -AC1 and 9848-AC0 & -AC1 - update to 7.3.0.7

Links to Public Exploits and PoC-codes

External References

Related Security Bulletins