# CVE-2014-7169: GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code or write files via crafted environment variables in Bash, affecting systems using SSH, CGI, or DHCP clients.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Yes, since 28 Jan 2022 (CISA KEV)
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 25 Sep 2014
- **Updated:** 22 Oct 2025
- **Also known as:** CVE-2014-3659, CVE-2014-7196, DEBIAN-CVE-2014-7169, GHSA-f7j6-xrjp-vffg, MGASA-2014-0393, UBUNTU-CVE-2014-7169, USN-2363-1, USN-2363-2

## What is CVE-2014-7169?

CVE-2014-7169 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 25 Sep 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

GNU Bash through 4.3 bash43-025 processes trailing strings after certain malformed function definitions in the values of environment variables, which allows remote attackers to write to files or possibly have unknown other impact 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.

Weakness: CWE-78 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-7169?

It affects 74 products.


Products: Apple Mac Os X, Arista Eos, Canonical Ubuntu Linux, Checkpoint Security Gateway, Citrix Netscaler Sdx Firmware, Debian Debian Linux, F5 Arx Firmware, F5 Big-Ip Access Policy Manager, F5 Big-Ip Advanced Firewall Manager, F5 Big-Ip Analytics, F5 Big-Ip Application Acceleration Manager, F5 Big-Ip Application Security Manager, F5 Big-Ip Edge Gateway, F5 Big-Ip Global Traffic Manager, F5 Big-Ip Link Controller, F5 Big-Ip Local Traffic Manager, F5 Big-Ip Policy Enforcement Manager, F5 Big-Ip Protocol Security Module, F5 Big-Ip Wan Optimization Manager, F5 Big-Ip Webaccelerator and 54 more.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-7169?

Apply the vendor's patch. US federal agencies must fix it by 28 Jul 2022.

## Is CVE-2014-7169 being exploited?

Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2014-7169 in the wild since at least 28 Jan 2022.

Public exploit code:

- DEPRECATED: Chef cookbook to audit & remediate "Shellshock" (BASH-CVE-2014-7169) (github_poc): https://github.com/chef-boneyard/bash-shellshock
- CVE-2014-7169 Shell Shock (github_poc): https://github.com/Gobinath-B/SHELL-SCHOCK
- GNU Bash - 'Shellshock' Environment Variable Command Injection (exploitdb)
- Bash - 'Shellshock' Environment Variables Command Injection (exploitdb)
- GNU Bash - Environment Variable Command Injection (Metasploit) (exploitdb)
- dhclient 4.1 - Bash Environment Variable Command Injection (Shellshock) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-6271](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-6271/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2012-1823](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-1823/): PHP-CGI Query String Parameter (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2021-30713](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-30713/): Apple macOS Unspecified (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2019-8526](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-8526/): Apple macOS Use-After-Free (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)
- [CVE-2015-1130](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2015-1130/): Apple OS X Authentication Bypass (high 7.8, exploited in the wild)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-7169 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-7169 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 25 Sep 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: Yes. Attackers have exploited CVE-2014-7169 in the wild since at least 28 Jan 2022.

Affected product: Apple Mac Os X. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-7169
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-7169
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-7169

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.