Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a local privilege escalation issue in openSUSE 13.2. A flaw in mdadm's mdcheck script could let someone who already has local access run commands as root. The affected scope appears narrow and legacy, but root-level impact makes unpatched systems important to identify.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted legacy-system cleanup item. It is not presented as remotely exploitable or actively exploited, but any affected host with multiple local users could allow full system compromise.
Technical view
CVE-2014-5220 concerns improper sanitization of device names in the mdcheck script shipped with mdadm for openSUSE 13.2 before 3.3.1-5.14.1. The reported consequence is arbitrary command execution as root by a local attacker. The provided sources do not include CVSS, CWE, or detailed exploit mechanics.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely limited to systems running openSUSE 13.2 with mdadm older than 3.3.1-5.14.1. Current Linux distributions or non-openSUSE deployments are not identified as affected in the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle says exploitation requires a local attacker. It does not cite public weaponization, remote exploitation, or active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided data.
Researcher notes
Evidence is concise and vendor-centered. The key confirmed details are affected package, platform, fixed version, local attacker requirement, and root command execution impact. The bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE mapping, proof-of-concept status, or broader affected-product evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Update mdadm on openSUSE 13.2 to version 3.3.1-5.14.1 or newer.
- Confirm openSUSE-SU-2015:0308 is applied on any remaining openSUSE 13.2 hosts.
- Limit local shell access on affected systems until remediation is complete.
- Check SUSE or openSUSE guidance before applying nonstandard workarounds.
Validation and detection
- Inventory hosts for openSUSE 13.2 installations.
- Check installed mdadm package versions against 3.3.1-5.14.1.
- Confirm the mdcheck script comes from the vendor mdadm package.
- Review patch or update records for openSUSE-SU-2015:0308.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CVE-2014-5220 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
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.
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
- openSUSE-SU-2015:0308CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_SUSE
- https://bugzilla.suse.com/show_bug.cgi?id=910500CVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.