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 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 v3.1

8.8 HIGHCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS v2.0

10.0 HIGHAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

EPSS

99.62% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days, 100th percentile

CISA KEV

added 2025-10-02

Published

2014-09-30

Updated

2025-12-30

Proof-of-concept exploits (2)

• 0xBeacon/CiscoUCS-Shellshock0★ · 2016-03-28
• thatchriseckert/CiscoUCS-Shellshock0★ · 2016-03-28

Metasploit modules (1)

• rapid7/metasploit-framework/blob/master/modules/exploits/multi/http/cups_bash_env_exec.rb

ExploitDB entries (5)

• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/36933
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/34900
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39887
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/39568
• https://www.exploit-db.com/exploits/34860

References

• CVE Record
• NVD entry

Related

• CVE-2014-6277
• CVE-2014-6287
• CVE-2014-6271
• CVE-2014-6308
• CVE-2014-6242
• CVE-2014-6312