GCVE Workshop - 22 September 2026 (14:00-18:00), Luxembourg Before The Vulnopticon Conference - Registration

CVE-2014-4678 (GCVE-0-2014-4678)

Vulnerability from cvelistv5 – Published: 2020-02-20 02:49 – Updated: 2024-08-06 11:27
VLAI
Summary
The safe_eval function in Ansible before 1.6.4 does not properly restrict the code subset, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted instructions. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-4657.
Severity
9.8 (Critical)
CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CWE
  • Other
Assigner
References
Impacted products
Vendor Product Version CPE status
n/a Ansible Affected: before 1.6.4
Date Public
2014-06-25 00:00
Show details on NVD website
To clipboard 

{
  "containers": {
    "adp": [
      {
        "providerMetadata": {
          "dateUpdated": "2024-08-06T11:27:35.287Z",
          "orgId": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
          "shortName": "CVE"
        },
        "references": [
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/5429b85b9f6c2e640074176f36ff05fd5e4d1916"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=ansible-announce/ieV1vZvcTXU/5Q93ThkY9rIJ"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-4678"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/26/30"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/02/2"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/gentoo-linux-cve-2014-4678"
          },
          {
            "tags": [
              "x_refsource_MISC",
              "x_transferred"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/freebsd-vid-2c493ac8-205e-11e5-a4a5-002590263bf5"
          }
        ],
        "title": "CVE Program Container"
      }
    ],
    "cna": {
      "affected": [
        {
          "product": "Ansible",
          "vendor": "n/a",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "before 1.6.4"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "datePublic": "2014-06-25T00:00:00.000Z",
      "descriptions": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "The safe_eval function in Ansible before 1.6.4 does not properly restrict the code subset, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted instructions. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-4657."
        }
      ],
      "problemTypes": [
        {
          "descriptions": [
            {
              "description": "Other",
              "lang": "en",
              "type": "text"
            }
          ]
        }
      ],
      "providerMetadata": {
        "dateUpdated": "2020-02-20T02:49:50.000Z",
        "orgId": "53f830b8-0a3f-465b-8143-3b8a9948e749",
        "shortName": "redhat"
      },
      "references": [
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/5429b85b9f6c2e640074176f36ff05fd5e4d1916"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=ansible-announce/ieV1vZvcTXU/5Q93ThkY9rIJ"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-4678"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/26/30"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/02/2"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/gentoo-linux-cve-2014-4678"
        },
        {
          "tags": [
            "x_refsource_MISC"
          ],
          "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/freebsd-vid-2c493ac8-205e-11e5-a4a5-002590263bf5"
        }
      ]
    }
  },
  "cveMetadata": {
    "assignerOrgId": "53f830b8-0a3f-465b-8143-3b8a9948e749",
    "assignerShortName": "redhat",
    "cveId": "CVE-2014-4678",
    "datePublished": "2020-02-20T02:49:50.000Z",
    "dateReserved": "2014-06-26T00:00:00.000Z",
    "dateUpdated": "2024-08-06T11:27:35.287Z",
    "state": "PUBLISHED"
  },
  "dataType": "CVE_RECORD",
  "dataVersion": "5.1",
  "vulnerability-lookup:meta": {
    "epss": {
      "cve": "CVE-2014-4678",
      "date": "2026-09-18",
      "epss": "0.0524",
      "percentile": "0.92143"
    },
    "nvd": {
      "cve": {
        "configurations": [
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:redhat:ansible:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "84D2716E-AD3A-43CB-8EAC-817CC7A7601F",
                    "versionEndExcluding": "1.6.4",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ]
          },
          {
            "nodes": [
              {
                "cpeMatch": [
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:8.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "C11E6FB0-C8C0-4527-9AA0-CB9B316F8F43",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  },
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:9.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "DEECE5FC-CACF-4496-A3E7-164736409252",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  },
                  {
                    "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
                    "matchCriteriaId": "07B237A9-69A3-4A9C-9DA0-4E06BD37AE73",
                    "vulnerable": true
                  }
                ],
                "negate": false,
                "operator": "OR"
              }
            ]
          }
        ],
        "cveTags": [],
        "descriptions": [
          {
            "lang": "en",
            "value": "The safe_eval function in Ansible before 1.6.4 does not properly restrict the code subset, which allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted instructions. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2014-4657."
          },
          {
            "lang": "es",
            "value": "La funci\u00f3n safe_eval en Ansible versiones anteriores a 1.6.4, no restringe apropiadamente el subconjunto de c\u00f3digos, lo que permite a atacantes remotos ejecutar c\u00f3digo arbitrario por medio de instrucciones dise\u00f1adas. NOTA: esta vulnerabilidad se presenta debido a una correcci\u00f3n incompleta del CVE-2014-4657."
          }
        ],
        "id": "CVE-2014-4678",
        "lastModified": "2024-11-21T02:10:41.557",
        "metrics": {
          "cvssMetricV2": [
            {
              "acInsufInfo": false,
              "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
              "cvssData": {
                "accessComplexity": "LOW",
                "accessVector": "NETWORK",
                "authentication": "NONE",
                "availabilityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "baseScore": 7.5,
                "confidentialityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "integrityImpact": "PARTIAL",
                "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P",
                "version": "2.0"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 10.0,
              "impactScore": 6.4,
              "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
              "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
              "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary",
              "userInteractionRequired": false
            }
          ],
          "cvssMetricV31": [
            {
              "cvssData": {
                "attackComplexity": "LOW",
                "attackVector": "NETWORK",
                "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
                "baseScore": 9.8,
                "baseSeverity": "CRITICAL",
                "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH",
                "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
                "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
                "scope": "UNCHANGED",
                "userInteraction": "NONE",
                "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
                "version": "3.1"
              },
              "exploitabilityScore": 3.9,
              "impactScore": 5.9,
              "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
              "type": "Primary"
            }
          ]
        },
        "published": "2020-02-20T03:15:10.717",
        "references": [
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Patch",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/5429b85b9f6c2e640074176f36ff05fd5e4d1916"
          },
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=ansible-announce/ieV1vZvcTXU/5Q93ThkY9rIJ"
          },
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-4678"
          },
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Mailing List",
              "Patch",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/26/30"
          },
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Mailing List",
              "Patch",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/02/2"
          },
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/freebsd-vid-2c493ac8-205e-11e5-a4a5-002590263bf5"
          },
          {
            "source": "secalert@redhat.com",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/gentoo-linux-cve-2014-4678"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Patch",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://github.com/ansible/ansible/commit/5429b85b9f6c2e640074176f36ff05fd5e4d1916"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://groups.google.com/forum/message/raw?msg=ansible-announce/ieV1vZvcTXU/5Q93ThkY9rIJ"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://security-tracker.debian.org/tracker/CVE-2014-4678"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Mailing List",
              "Patch",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/26/30"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Mailing List",
              "Patch",
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/07/02/2"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/freebsd-vid-2c493ac8-205e-11e5-a4a5-002590263bf5"
          },
          {
            "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108",
            "tags": [
              "Third Party Advisory"
            ],
            "url": "https://www.rapid7.com/db/vulnerabilities/gentoo-linux-cve-2014-4678"
          }
        ],
        "sourceIdentifier": "secalert@redhat.com",
        "vulnStatus": "Modified",
        "weaknesses": [
          {
            "description": [
              {
                "lang": "en",
                "value": "CWE-74"
              }
            ],
            "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
            "type": "Primary"
          }
        ]
      }
    },
    "redhat_vex": {
      "aggregate_severity": "Moderate",
      "current_release_date": "2025-11-21T16:58:49+00:00",
      "cve": "CVE-2014-4678",
      "id": "CVE-2014-4678",
      "initial_release_date": "2014-01-01T00:00:00+00:00",
      "product_status:known_not_affected": "18",
      "source": "Red Hat CSAF VEX",
      "status": "final",
      "title": "ansible: safe_eval function does not properly restrict the code subset leads to arbitrary code execution via crafted instructions",
      "url": "https://security.access.redhat.com/data/csaf/v2/vex/2014/cve-2014-4678.json",
      "version": "3"
    }
  }
}



Log in or create an account to share your comment.




Tags
Taxonomy of the tags.





Forecast uses a logistic model when the trend is rising, or an exponential decay model when the trend is falling. Fitted via linearized least squares.

Sightings

Author Source Type Date Other

Nomenclature

  • Seen: The vulnerability was mentioned, discussed, or observed by the user.
  • Confirmed: The vulnerability has been validated from an analyst's perspective.
  • Published Proof of Concept: A public proof of concept is available for this vulnerability.
  • Exploited: The vulnerability was observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Patched: The vulnerability was observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not exploited: The vulnerability was not observed as exploited by the user who reported the sighting.
  • Not confirmed: The user expressed doubt about the validity of the vulnerability.
  • Not patched: The vulnerability was not observed as successfully patched by the user who reported the sighting.


Detection rules are retrieved from Rulezet.


Related by attack behaviour

Vulnerabilities whose description is nearest to this one in the vector space of the CIRCL/vulnerability-attack-technique-biencoder model. This is a similarity search over the bi-encoder space (plain cosine), not a classification, and it has no measured accuracy.