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CVE-2014-6278 — GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-026 does not properly parse function definitions in the…

Key facts

CVE-2014-6278 is a High (8.8) vulnerability: GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-026 does not properly parse function definitions in the…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2025-10-02), confirming active exploitation in the wild.

Actively exploited — on the CISA KEV catalog

CVE-2014-6278 is listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2025-10-02), confirming exploitation in the wild. Federal remediation deadline: 2025-10-23. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules below.
CVE CVE-2014-6278
Severity High (8.8)
CISA KEV Actively exploited (added 2025-10-02)
Detection / prevention —
PoC poc.py
Source 2014/CVE-2014-6278/

Details

English | 한국어

Description

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.

Vulnerability Details

Property Value
CVE ID CVE-2014-6278
Type RCE
CVSS Score 8.8

Proof of Concept

Download

# Download PoC script
curl -O https://raw.githubusercontent.com/fankh/vulnerability-poc/main/2014/CVE-2014-6278/poc.py

Usage

# Run PoC against target
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL>

# With authentication
python3 poc.py --target <TARGET_URL> --username <USER> --password <PASS>

⚠️ Warning: This PoC is for authorized security testing only. It uses detection-only techniques and does not exploit or damage target systems.

Test Lab

This repository includes a Docker-based test environment with both vulnerable and patched applications.

Quick Start

# Clone and navigate to CVE directory
cd CVE-2014-6278

# Start both applications
docker-compose up -d

# Run tests
./run-tests.sh    # Linux/Mac
./run-tests.ps1   # Windows PowerShell

Application Endpoints

Application URL Status
Vulnerable App http://localhost:8080 Shows vulnerability
Patched App http://localhost:8081 Demonstrates fix

Directory Structure

├── README.md           # English documentation
├── README_KO.md        # Korean documentation
├── poc.py              # PoC detection script
├── docker-compose.yml  # Container orchestration
├── run-tests.sh        # Linux/Mac test runner
├── run-tests.ps1       # Windows test runner
├── vulnerable-app/     # Vulnerable version
│   ├── app.py
│   ├── Dockerfile
│   └── requirements.txt
└── patched-app/        # Fixed version
    ├── app.py
    ├── Dockerfile
    └── requirements.txt

References

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

Generated by PoC Generator on 2026-07-11T10:42:37.131594212

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2014-6278?

CVE-2014-6278 is a High (8.8) vulnerability: GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-026 does not properly parse function definitions in the…. This entry ships a detection-only PoC and a Docker test lab. It is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog (added 2025-10-02), confirming active exploitation in the wild.

How do I detect CVE-2014-6278?

Run the detection-only PoC included with this entry against your Docker test lab to confirm whether a target is affected; pair it with your own IDS logging.

How do I block or mitigate CVE-2014-6278?

Upgrade to a fixed version per the vendor advisory; the NVD record lists the affected versions. Use the included PoC to verify your remediation.

Is CVE-2014-6278 actively exploited?

Yes. CVE-2014-6278 is on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog, added 2025-10-02, which means it has been exploited in the wild. CISA set a federal remediation deadline of 2025-10-23. Prioritise patching and deploy the detection and prevention rules above.

For authorized security testing and research only. See the full source and NVD record.