# CVE-2014-8517: Command injection in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary commands via a pipe character in HTTP redirects when using the tnftp client.

- **Severity:** High 7.5 (`AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** Yes
- **Published:** 17 Nov 2014
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** DEBIAN-CVE-2014-8517, GHSA-5gp4-x3wh-cxgj, openSUSE-SU-2024:10306-1

## What is CVE-2014-8517?

CVE-2014-8517 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 17 Nov 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

The fetch_url function in usr.bin/ftp/fetch.c in tnftp, as used in NetBSD 5.1 through 5.1.4, 5.2 through 5.2.2, 6.0 through 6.0.6, and 6.1 through 6.1.5 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary commands via a | (pipe) character at the end of an HTTP redirect.

Weakness: CWE-77 (Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2014-8517?

It affects 2 products.


| Package | Ecosystem | Affected | Fixed in |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| `tnftp` | openSUSE:Tumbleweed | All versions | 20151004-1.3 |

Products: Apple Mac Os X, Netbsd Netbsd.

## How do I fix CVE-2014-8517?

Apply the vendor's patch.

## Is CVE-2014-8517 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2014-8517 exists.

Public exploit code:

- tnftp "savefile" Arbitrary Command Execution (metasploit)
- tnftp (FreeBSD 8/9/10) - 'tnftp' Client Side (exploitdb)
- tnftp - 'savefile' Arbitrary Command Execution (Metasploit) (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Apple Mac Os X

- [CVE-2014-7169](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-7169/): GNU Bourne-Again Shell (Bash) Arbitrary Code Execution (critical 9.8, exploited in the wild)
- [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)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2014-8517 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2014-8517 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability in Apple Mac Os X, published on 17 Nov 2014. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2014-8517 exists.

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-2014-8517/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-8517/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2014-8517
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2014-8517
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2014-8517

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2014-8517/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.