The ELF parser in file 5.08 through 5.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of…
Priority LOW 30CWE-399Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Denial of service
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- None · None · Partial
- Fix status
- Partial Red Hat: 8 fixed, 2 without a fix
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-399 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
The ELF parser in file 5.08 through 5.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a large number of notes.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.04683 91st percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Partial Red Hat: 1 advisoryRed Hat: 8 fixed, 2 without a fix
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 14
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.08:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.08 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.09:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.09 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.10 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.11 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.12 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.13 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.14 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.15 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.16 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.17 | Vulnerable | File Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.08:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.08 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.09:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.09 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.10:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.10 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.11:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.11 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.12:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.12 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.13:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.13 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.14 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.15 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.16 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.17:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.17 Vulnerable ·File Project
Show 4 more CPE
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.18 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.19 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.20 | Vulnerable | File Project |
| cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 5.21 | Vulnerable | File Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.18 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.19 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.20:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.20 Vulnerable ·File Project
- cpe:2.3:a:file_project:file:5.21:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 5.21 Vulnerable ·File Project
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2016:0760 Released 2016-05-10 · Red Hat rating Moderatefile security, bug fix, and enhancement update
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) file-5.04-30.el6, file-libs-5.04-30.el6, python-magic-5.04-30.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) file-devel-5.04-30.el6, file-static-5.04-30.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) file-5.04-30.el6, file-libs-5.04-30.el6, python-magic-5.04-30.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) file-devel-5.04-30.el6, file-static-5.04-30.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) file-5.04-30.el6, file-devel-5.04-30.el6, file-devel-5.04-30.el6.ppc +3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) file-static-5.04-30.el6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) file-5.04-30.el6, file-devel-5.04-30.el6, file-libs-5.04-30.el6 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) file-static-5.04-30.el6
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Low. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 | Affected | No fix planned: Will not fix |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2016:0760 |
Not affected: 4 products
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7
- Red Hat Software Collections
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2014-9620
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7ffm-2w4x-4wm5
References
Other 5
- [oss-security] 20150117 Re: CVE request: file(1) DoS
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html
- https://github.com/file/file/commit/ce90e05774dd77d86cfc8dfa6da57b32816841c4
- [File] 20141216 file 5.21 is now available
- http://advisories.mageia.org/MGASA-2015-0040.html
More File Project File vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-06425 do_core_note in readelf.c in libmagic.a in file 5.35 allows remote attackers to cause a… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2019-06422 do_bid_note in readelf.c in libmagic.a in file 5.35 has a stack-based buffer over-read… CVSS 3.0HIGH 8.8
- TI-2014-02807 The cdf_count_chain function in cdf.c in file before 5.19, as used in the Fileinfo… CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2014-07843 readelf.c in file before 5.22, as used in the Fileinfo component in PHP before 5.4.37… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2019-13237 cdf_read_property_info in cdf.c in file through 5.37 does not restrict the number of… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2014-02814 The cdf_read_property_info function in file before 5.19, as used in the Fileinfo… CVSS 2.0MEDIUM 4.3
Sources
- CVE-2014-9620 · CVE Program
- CVE-2014-9620 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7ffm-2w4x-4wm5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2014-9620 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences