CVE-2014-5461: Buffer overflow in the vararg functions in ldo.c in Lua 5.1 through 5.2.x before 5.2.3 allows context-dependen

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MEDIUM 5.0WATCHLISTMITIGATEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2014-5461 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting opensuse, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in the vararg functions in ldo.c in Lua 5.1 through 5.2.x before 5.2.3 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a small number of arguments to a function with a large number of fixed arguments.

Why this priority

EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	12.0% (top 4%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-119
Published	2014-09-04
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: canonical · debian · lua · mageia · opensuse

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-09-04 17:55 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:11 UTCUpdated Record last modified

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.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 12.04 · 14.04

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 12.04

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.

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 7.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 7.0

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.

lua lua DOWNGRADE

Affected: 5.1 · 5.1.1 · 5.1.2 · 5.1.3 · 5.1.4 · 5.1.5 · 5.2.0 · 5.2.1

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 5.1

1. Check installed version

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

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 5.1 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison lua sudo apt install lua=<VERSION_BEFORE_5.1> sudo apt-mark hold lua

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list lua sudo dnf downgrade lua-<VERSION_BEFORE_5.1> sudo dnf versionlock add lua

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.

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.

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-2014-5461?

opensuse: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; ubuntu linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2014-5461 being exploited?

CVE-2014-5461 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-2014-5461 affect?

CVE-2014-5461 affects opensuse, ubuntu linux, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Buffer overflow in the vararg functions in ldo.c in Lua 5.1 through 5.2.x before 5.2.3 allows context-dependent attackers to cause a denial of service (crash) via a small number of arguments to a function with a large number of fixed argume

How urgent is CVE-2014-5461?

Priority 52/100. EPSS top 4%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities · Debian vulnerabilities

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References

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