CVE-2014-3478: Buffer overflow in the mconvert function in softmagic.c in file before 5.19, as used in the Fileinfo component

Q: How do I fix CVE-2014-3478?

file: upgrade to newer than 5.18; php: upgrade to newer than 5.4.29. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2014-3478 being exploited?

CVE-2014-3478 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-2014-3478 affect?

CVE-2014-3478 affects file, php. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). Buffer overflow in the mconvert function in softmagic.c in file before 5.19, as used in the Fileinfo component in PHP before 5.4.30 and 5.5.x before 5.5.14, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a craf

Q: How urgent is CVE-2014-3478?

Priority 52/100. EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

This week

MEDIUM 6.5UPGRADEUPGRADE

CVE-2014-3478 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting file, php. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in the mconvert function in softmagic.c in file before 5.19, as used in the Fileinfo component in PHP before 5.4.30 and 5.5.x before 5.5.14, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a crafted Pascal string in a FILE_PSTRING conversion.

Why this priority

EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	15.2% (top 3%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2014-07-09
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: christos zoulas · php

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-07-09 11:07 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:08 UTCUpdated Record last modified

christos zoulas file UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.18 · 5.00 · 5.01 · 5.02 · 5.03 · 5.04 · 5.05 · 5.06

Fixed in: newer than 5.18

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 5.18 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade file

Note

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

php php UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.4.29 · 5.4.0 · 5.4.1 · 5.4.2 · 5.4.3 · 5.4.4 · 5.4.5 · 5.4.6

Fixed in: newer than 5.4.29

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 5.4.29 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade php

Note

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

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-2014-3478?

file: upgrade to newer than 5.18; php: upgrade to newer than 5.4.29. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2014-3478 being exploited?

CVE-2014-3478 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-2014-3478 affect?

CVE-2014-3478 affects file, php. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). Buffer overflow in the mconvert function in softmagic.c in file before 5.19, as used in the Fileinfo component in PHP before 5.4.30 and 5.5.x before 5.5.14, allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via a craf

How urgent is CVE-2014-3478?

Priority 52/100. EPSS top 3%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

Software pages

PHP vulnerabilities

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References

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