// For flags

CVE-2014-7817

glibc: command execution in wordexp() with WRDE_NOCMD specified

Severity Score

9.8
*CVSS v3

Exploit Likelihood

*EPSS

Affected Versions

*CPE

Public Exploits

0
*Multiple Sources

Exploited in Wild

-
*KEV

Decision

-
*SSVC
Descriptions

The wordexp function in GNU C Library (aka glibc) 2.21 does not enforce the WRDE_NOCMD flag, which allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary commands, as demonstrated by input containing "$((`...`))".

La función wordexp en GNU C Library (también conocido como glibc) 2.21 no fuerza el indicador WRDE_NOCMD, lo que permite a atacantes dependientes de contexto ejecutar comandos arbitrarios, tal y como fue demostrado por entradas que contienen '$((`...`))'.

It was found that the wordexp() function would perform command substitution even when the WRDE_NOCMD flag was specified. An attacker able to provide specially crafted input to an application using the wordexp() function, and not sanitizing the input correctly, could potentially use this flaw to execute arbitrary commands with the credentials of the user running that application.

The glibc packages provide the standard C libraries, POSIX thread libraries, standard math libraries, and the Name Server Caching Daemon used by multiple programs on the system. Without these libraries, the Linux system cannot function correctly. An out-of-bounds read flaw was found in the way glibc's iconv() function converted certain encoded data to UTF-8. An attacker able to make an application call the iconv() function with a specially crafted argument could use this flaw to crash that application. It was found that the wordexp() function would perform command substitution even when the WRDE_NOCMD flag was specified. An attacker able to provide specially crafted input to an application using the wordexp() function, and not sanitizing the input correctly, could potentially use this flaw to execute arbitrary commands with the credentials of the user running that application.

*Credits: N/A
CVSS Scores
Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
None
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
Partial
Availability
Partial
Attack Vector
Local
Attack Complexity
Low
Authentication
None
Confidentiality
Partial
Integrity
Partial
Availability
None
* Common Vulnerability Scoring System
SSVC
  • Decision:-
Exploitation
-
Automatable
-
Tech. Impact
-
* Organization's Worst-case Scenario
Timeline
  • 2014-10-03 CVE Reserved
  • 2014-11-24 CVE Published
  • 2024-08-06 CVE Updated
  • 2025-03-30 EPSS Updated
  • ---------- Exploited in Wild
  • ---------- KEV Due Date
  • ---------- First Exploit
CWE
  • CWE-20: Improper Input Validation
  • CWE-440: Expected Behavior Violation
CAPEC
Affected Vendors, Products, and Versions
Vendor Product Version Other Status
Vendor Product Version Other Status <-- --> Vendor Product Version Other Status
Canonical
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Ubuntu Linux
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10.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "10.04"
lts
Affected
Canonical
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Ubuntu Linux
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12.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "12.04"
lts
Affected
Canonical
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Ubuntu Linux
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux"
14.04
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "14.04"
lts
Affected
Canonical
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Ubuntu Linux
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14.10
Search vendor "Canonical" for product "Ubuntu Linux" and version "14.10"
-
Affected
Debian
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Debian Linux
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7.0
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-
Affected
Gnu
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Glibc
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2.21
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-
Affected
Opensuse
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Opensuse
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13.1
Search vendor "Opensuse" for product "Opensuse" and version "13.1"
-
Affected
Opensuse
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Opensuse
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13.2
Search vendor "Opensuse" for product "Opensuse" and version "13.2"
-
Affected