Description
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 "$((`...`))".
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | glibc | 2.19-14 | — |
| Debian 13 | glibc | 2.19-14 | — |
| Debian 12 | glibc | 2.19-14 | — |
| Debian 7 | eglibc | 2.13-38+deb7u7 | DSA-3142-1 |
| Debian 6.0 | eglibc | 2.11.3-4+deb6u2 | DLA-97-1 |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 14.04 LTS | eglibc | 2.19-0ubuntu6.4 | USN-2432-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 7 | nscd +7 | 2.17-55.el7_0.3 | RHSA-2014:2023 |
| RHEL 6 | nscd +7 | 2.12-1.149.el6_6.4 | RHSA-2015:0016 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 | glibc | 2.19-20.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:0526-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES for SAP 12 | glibc | 2.19-20.3 | SUSE-SU-2015:0526-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | glibc | 2.24-2.3 | openSUSE-SU-2024:10154-1 |
Oracle Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Oracle Linux 7 | nscd +6 | 2.17-55.0.4.el7_0.3 | ELSA-2014-2023 |
Advisories 8
- RHSA-2014:2023 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- RHSA-2015:0016 Red Hat Security Advisory: glibc security and bug fix update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 26, 2026
- USN-2432-1 eglibc, glibc vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Apr 22, 2026
- DSA-3142-1 eglibc - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- DLA-97-1 eglibc - security update Debian Security (DSA / DLA) · Mar 9, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2015:0526-1 Security update for glibc SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:10154-1 glibc-2.24-2.3 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- ELSA-2014-2023 Moderate: glibc security and bug fix update (Oracle Linux 7) Oracle Linux Security Advisories (ELSA) · Dec 18, 2014
References
- [oss-security] 20141120 CVE-2014-7817 glibc: command execution in wordexp() with WRDE_NOCMD specified mailing-list
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpujan2018-3236628.html
- http://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2015-0016.html
- USN-2432-1 vendor-advisory
- [libc-alpha] 20141119 [COMMITTED] CVE-2014-7817: wordexp fails to honour WRDE_NOCMD. mailing-list
- RHSA-2014:2023 vendor-advisory
- https://sourceware.org/git/gitweb.cgi?p=glibc.git%3Ba=commitdiff%3Bh=a39208bd7fb76c1b01c127b4c61f9bfd915bfe7c
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0351 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-201602-02 vendor-advisory
- 71216 vdb-entry
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2018-4428296.html
- 62100 third-party-advisory
- gnu-glibc-cve20147817-command-exec(98852) vdb-entry
- 62146 third-party-advisory
- https://sourceware.org/bugzilla/show_bug.cgi?id=17625
- http://linux.oracle.com/errata/ELSA-2015-0092.html
- DSA-3142 vendor-advisory