CVE-2014-3538: n/a vulnerability

CVE-2014-3538: file before 5.19 does not properly restrict the amount of data read during a regex search, which allows rem...

file before 5.19 does not properly restrict the amount of data read during a regex search, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption) via a crafted file that triggers backtracking during processing of an awk rule. NOTE: this vulnerability exists because of an incomplete fix for CVE-2013-7345.

UnknownCVSS not scoredNot KEV-listedUpdatedAug 6, 2024, 10:50 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Security readout for executives and security teams

This CVE affects the Unix file identification utility, before version 5.19. A specially crafted file can make its regex processing consume excessive CPU, causing denial of service in systems that scan untrusted files. The bundle does not show code execution or confirmed active exploitation. Internet-facing upload, attachment, malware-scanning, content-type detection, or document-processing workflows may be exposed if they use vulnerable file/libmagic packages. The provided affected-product metadata is incomplete, but the CVE description states file before 5.19 is affected. Treat as a targeted availability risk, not a breach-class emergency based on current evidence. Patch exposed file-processing systems during the next maintenance window, faster for public upload or attachment-scanning services. Mitigation focus: Upgrade file/libmagic through vendor-supported packages.; Confirm installed file version is 5.19 or vendor-patched.; Prioritize systems processing untrusted uploaded or emailed files..

Prepared: Jun 14, 2026, 13:53 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record

Severity: Unknown
CVSS: Not scored
Known Exploited: No
Published: Jul 3, 2014, 14:00 UTC (UTC+00:00)

Official CVE source material

CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5

These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.

0CVSS vectors

0Timeline events

0ADP providers

8Source links

CVSS and timeline data

No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.

Source materials

CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
https://github.com/file/file/commit/74cafd7de9ec99a14f4480927580e501c8f852c3CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/file/file/commit/71a8b6c0d758acb0f73e2e51421a711b5e9d6668CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://support.apple.com/HT204659CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1098222CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/file/file/commit/4a284c89d6ef11aca34da65da7d673050a5ea320CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/file/file/commit/69a5a43b3b71f53b0577f41264a073f495799610CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
https://github.com/file/file/commit/758e066df72fb1ac08d2eea91ddc3973d259e991CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus

n/an/an/aListed

Weakness

CWE details

No CWE listed

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