CVE-2014-8117: softmagic.c in file before 5.21 does not properly limit recursion, which allows remote attackers to cause a de

Q: How do I fix CVE-2014-8117?

file: upgrade to newer than 5.20; freebsd: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; mageia: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2014-8117 being exploited?

CVE-2014-8117 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-2014-8117 affect?

CVE-2014-8117 affects file, freebsd, mageia. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). softmagic.c in file before 5.21 does not properly limit recursion, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption or crash) via unspecified vectors.

Q: How urgent is CVE-2014-8117?

Priority 46/100. EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

This month

MEDIUM 5.0WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATEMITIGATE

CVE-2014-8117 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting file, freebsd, mageia. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

softmagic.c in file before 5.21 does not properly limit recursion, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption or crash) via unspecified vectors.

Why this priority

EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	5.9% (top 7%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-399
Published	2014-12-17
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): Red Hat, Inc. · Vendor: canonical · file project · freebsd · mageia

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2014-12-17 19:59 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 00:16 UTCUpdated Record last modified

file project file UPGRADE

Affected: <= 5.20

Fixed in: newer than 5.20

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 5.20 (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.

freebsd freebsd MITIGATE

Affected: all versions

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

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.

mageia mageia MITIGATE

Affected: 4.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 4.0

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.

canonical ubuntu linux MITIGATE

Affected: 10.04 · 12.04 · 14.04 · 14.10

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 10.04

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.

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-2014-8117?

file: upgrade to newer than 5.20; freebsd: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation; mageia: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2014-8117 being exploited?

CVE-2014-8117 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-2014-8117 affect?

CVE-2014-8117 affects file, freebsd, mageia. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). softmagic.c in file before 5.21 does not properly limit recursion, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (CPU consumption or crash) via unspecified vectors.

How urgent is CVE-2014-8117?

Priority 46/100. EPSS top 7%: very likely to be exploited; On your watchlist

Software pages

Ubuntu vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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CVE-2019-8907 HIGH 8.8 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE do_core_note in readelf.c in libmagic.a in file 5.35 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (sta
CVE-2019-8905 MEDIUM 4.4 MITIGATE DOWNGRADE do_core_note in readelf.c in libmagic.a in file 5.35 has a stack-based buffer over-read, related to file_print
CVE-2019-8904 HIGH 8.8 DOWNGRADE MITIGATE do_bid_note in readelf.c in libmagic.a in file 5.35 has a stack-based buffer over-read, related to file_printf

References

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