PatchTheCVECVE-2014-3248: Untrusted search path vulnerability in Puppet Enterprise 2.8 before 2.8.7, Puppet before 2.7.26 and 3.x before
38
Routine
MEDIUM 6.2DOWNGRADEUPGRADEUPGRADE
CVE-2014-3248 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.2) affecting facter, facter, marionette collective. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.
Untrusted search path vulnerability in Puppet Enterprise 2.8 before 2.8.7, Puppet before 2.7.26 and 3.x before 3.6.2, Facter 1.6.x and 2.x before 2.0.2, Hiera before 1.3.4, and Mcollective before 2.5.2, when running with Ruby 1.9.1 or earlier, allows local users to gain privileges via a Trojan horse file in the current working directory, as demonstrated using (1) rubygems/defaults/operating_system.rb, (2) Win32API.rb, (3) Win32API.so, (4) safe_ya
Why this priority
- Public exploit reference
A fixed release or distro patch exists.
Risk facts
| CVSS score | 6.2 (Medium) |
| EPSS exploit chance | 0.5% (top 54%) |
| CISA exploited list | No |
| Weakness | CWE-17 |
| Published | 2014-11-16 |
| Last modified | 2026-06-17 |
Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score
Am I affected?
Timeline
- Published CVE record published
- Updated Record last modified
puppet facter DOWNGRADE
Affected: 2.0.0 rc1 · 2.0.0 rc2 · 2.0.0 rc3 · 2.0.0 rc4 · 2.0.1 · 2.0.1 rc1 · 2.0.1 rc2 · 2.0.1 rc3
Fixed in: no fixed release known
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.0.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy facter || rpm -q facter || facter --version
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.0.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison facter
sudo apt install facter=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0.0>
sudo apt-mark hold facter
2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list facter
sudo dnf downgrade facter-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.0.0>
sudo dnf versionlock add facter
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
puppetlabs facter UPGRADE
Affected: >= 1.6.0 and <= 1.6.18
Fixed in: newer than 1.6.18
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 1.6.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy facter || rpm -q facter || facter --version
2. UPGRADE to newer than 1.6.18 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade facter
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade facter
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 1.6.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison facter
sudo apt install facter=<VERSION_BEFORE_1.6.0>
sudo apt-mark hold facter
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list facter
sudo dnf downgrade facter-<VERSION_BEFORE_1.6.0>
sudo dnf versionlock add facter
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
puppet marionette collective UPGRADE
Affected: < 2.5.2
Fixed in: 2.5.2
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy marionette-collective || rpm -q marionette-collective || marionette-collective --version
2. UPGRADE to 2.5.2 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade marionette-collective
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade marionette-collective
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
puppet hiera UPGRADE
Affected: < 1.3.4
Fixed in: 1.3.4
Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy hiera || rpm -q hiera || hiera --version
2. UPGRADE to 1.3.4 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade hiera
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade hiera
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
puppet puppet UPGRADE
Affected: < 2.7.26 · >= 3.6.0 and < 3.6.2
Fixed in: 2.7.26, 3.6.2
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 3.6.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy puppet || rpm -q puppet || puppet --version
2. UPGRADE to 2.7.26 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade puppet
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade puppet
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 3.6.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison puppet
sudo apt install puppet=<VERSION_BEFORE_3.6.0>
sudo apt-mark hold puppet
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list puppet
sudo dnf downgrade puppet-<VERSION_BEFORE_3.6.0>
sudo dnf versionlock add puppet
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
puppet puppet enterprise UPGRADE
Affected: >= 2.8.0 and < 2.8.7
Fixed in: 2.8.7
Safe to downgrade to: a release before 2.8.0
1. Check installed version
apt-cache policy puppet-enterprise || rpm -q puppet-enterprise || puppet-enterprise --version
2. UPGRADE to 2.8.7 (Debian / Ubuntu)
sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade puppet-enterprise
2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
sudo dnf upgrade puppet-enterprise
Note
Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE to a release before 2.8.0 (Debian / Ubuntu)
apt-cache madison puppet-enterprise
sudo apt install puppet-enterprise=<VERSION_BEFORE_2.8.0>
sudo apt-mark hold puppet-enterprise
3. If no update is available yet, DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)
dnf --showduplicates list puppet-enterprise
sudo dnf downgrade puppet-enterprise-<VERSION_BEFORE_2.8.0>
sudo dnf versionlock add puppet-enterprise
Downgrade risk
Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.
After downgrade
Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.
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.
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-2014-3248?
facter: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation; facter: upgrade to newer than 1.6.18; marionette collective: upgrade to 2.5.2. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.
Is CVE-2014-3248 being exploited?
CVE-2014-3248 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-2014-3248 affect?
CVE-2014-3248 affects facter, facter, marionette collective. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.2). Untrusted search path vulnerability in Puppet Enterprise 2.8 before 2.8.7, Puppet before 2.7.26 and 3.x before 3.6.2, Facter 1.6.x and 2.x before 2.0.2, Hiera before 1.3.4, and Mcollective before 2.5.2, when running with Ruby 1.9.1 or earli
How urgent is CVE-2014-3248?
Priority 38/100. Public exploit reference
Software pages
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