CVE-2017-14604: GNOME Nautilus before 3.23.90 allows attackers to spoof a file type by using the .desktop file extension, as d

Q: How do I fix CVE-2017-14604?

nautilus: upgrade to 3.23.90; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2017-14604 being exploited?

CVE-2017-14604 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-2017-14604 affect?

CVE-2017-14604 affects nautilus, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). GNOME Nautilus before 3.23.90 allows attackers to spoof a file type by using the .desktop file extension, as demonstrated by an attack in which a .desktop file's Name field ends in .pdf but this file's Exec field launches a malicious "sh -c

Q: How urgent is CVE-2017-14604?

Priority 54/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

This month

MEDIUM 6.5WATCHLISTUPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2017-14604 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 6.5) affecting nautilus, debian linux. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

GNOME Nautilus before 3.23.90 allows attackers to spoof a file type by using the .desktop file extension, as demonstrated by an attack in which a .desktop file's Name field ends in .pdf but this file's Exec field launches a malicious "sh -c" command. In other words, Nautilus provides no UI indication that a file actually has the potentially unsafe .desktop extension; instead, the UI only shows the .pdf extension. One (slightly) mitigating factor

Why this priority

Public exploit reference
On your watchlist

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	6.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Network (remote)
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	Low
User interaction	None
EPSS exploit chance	2.5% (top 15%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-20
Published	2017-09-20
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: debian · gnome

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

Am I affected?

Timeline

2017-09-20 08:29 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 01:06 UTCUpdated Record last modified

gnome nautilus UPGRADE

Affected: < 3.23.90

Fixed in: 3.23.90

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to 3.23.90 (Debian / Ubuntu)

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

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade nautilus

Note

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

debian debian linux MITIGATE

Affected: 8.0 · 9.0 · 10.0

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 8.0

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-2017-14604?

nautilus: upgrade to 3.23.90; debian linux: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2017-14604 being exploited?

CVE-2017-14604 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-2017-14604 affect?

CVE-2017-14604 affects nautilus, debian linux. Severity is medium (CVSS 6.5). GNOME Nautilus before 3.23.90 allows attackers to spoof a file type by using the .desktop file extension, as demonstrated by an attack in which a .desktop file's Name field ends in .pdf but this file's Exec field launches a malicious "sh -c

How urgent is CVE-2017-14604?

Priority 54/100. Public exploit reference; On your watchlist

Software pages

Debian vulnerabilities

Related CVEs

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CVE-2017-12447 HIGH 7.8 DOWNGRADE DOWNGRADE GdkPixBuf (aka gdk-pixbuf), possibly 2.32.2, as used by GNOME Nautilus 3.14.3 on Ubuntu 16.04, allows attacker
CVE-2002-0157 MEDIUM 4.6 DOWNGRADE Nautilus 1.0.4 and earlier allows local users to overwrite arbitrary files via a symlink attack on the .nautil

References

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