CVE-2014-9620: The ELF parser in file 5.08 through 5.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service via a large n...

Security readout for executives and security teams

CVE-2014-9620 is a denial-of-service flaw in the ELF parser used by file versions 5.08 through 5.21. A specially crafted ELF file with many notes could make parsing fail or consume resources. The main business risk is disruption to systems that inspect untrusted files, not data theft or code execution based on the provided sources. Exposure is most likely where file or libmagic parses untrusted ELF inputs, such as upload inspection, malware triage, package analysis, or automated file classification. Systems only using current vendor packages are less likely exposed. Embedded or bundled copies should be checked separately. Treat this as a targeted availability risk. It should be remediated through routine security patching, with higher priority for internet-facing or automated file-analysis services. There is no source-backed evidence here of active exploitation or code execution. Mitigation focus: Update file/libmagic through the operating system vendor's security packages.; Replace affected upstream versions 5.08 through 5.21 where bundled manually.; Check vendor advisories for distribution-specific fixed package versions..

Prepared

Jun 14, 2026, 05:11 UTC (UTC+00:00)

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