CVE-2014-2524: The _rl_tropen function in util.c in GNU readline before 6.3 patch 3 allows local users to create or overwrite

Q: How do I fix CVE-2014-2524?

mageia: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; readline: upgrade to newer than 6.3; opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2014-2524 being exploited?

CVE-2014-2524 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2014-2524 affect?

CVE-2014-2524 affects mageia, readline, opensuse. Severity is low (CVSS 3.3). The _rl_tropen function in util.c in GNU readline before 6.3 patch 3 allows local users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /var/tmp/rltrace.[PID] file.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2014-2524?

Priority 21/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Routine

LOW 3.3MITIGATEUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2014-2524 is a low-severity flaw (CVSS 3.3) affecting mageia, readline, opensuse. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

The _rl_tropen function in util.c in GNU readline before 6.3 patch 3 allows local users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /var/tmp/rltrace.[PID] file.

Why this priority

No elevated risk signals yet

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	3.3 (Low)
EPSS exploit chance	0.4% (top 64%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-59
Published	2014-08-20
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: fedoraproject · gnu · mageia · opensuse

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-08-20 14:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:06 UTCUpdated Record last modified

mageia mageia MITIGATE

Affected: 3.0 · 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.0

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

gnu readline UPGRADE

Affected: <= 6.3 · 2.1 · 2.2 · 4.0 · 4.1 · 4.2 · 4.2 a · 4.3

Fixed in: newer than 6.3

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy readline || rpm -q readline || readline --version

2. UPGRADE to newer than 6.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade readline

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade readline

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

opensuse opensuse MITIGATE

Affected: 12.3 · 13.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.3

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 20

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 20

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2014-2524?

mageia: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; readline: upgrade to newer than 6.3; opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2014-2524 being exploited?

CVE-2014-2524 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2014-2524 affect?

CVE-2014-2524 affects mageia, readline, opensuse. Severity is low (CVSS 3.3). The _rl_tropen function in util.c in GNU readline before 6.3 patch 3 allows local users to create or overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on a /var/tmp/rltrace.[PID] file.

How urgent is CVE-2014-2524?

Priority 21/100. No elevated risk signals yet.

Related CVEs

CVE-2015-2296 MEDIUM 6.8 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE The resolve_redirects function in sessions.py in requests 2.1.0 through 2.5.3 allows remote attackers to condu
CVE-2015-2191 MEDIUM 5.0 MITIGATE MITIGATE Integer overflow in the dissect_tnef function in epan/dissectors/packet-tnef.c in the TNEF dissector in Wiresh
CVE-2015-2189 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE Off-by-one error in the pcapng_read function in wiretap/pcapng.c in the pcapng file parser in Wireshark 1.10.x
CVE-2015-2188 MEDIUM 5.0 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE epan/dissectors/packet-wcp.c in the WCP dissector in Wireshark 1.10.x before 1.10.13 and 1.12.x before 1.12.4
CVE-2015-0236 LOW 3.5 MITIGATE UPGRADE libvirt before 1.2.12 allow remote authenticated users to obtain the VNC password by using the VIR_DOMAIN_XML_

References

← Back to latest CVEs