CVE DATABASE / CVE-2021-22204
CVE-2021-22204
ExifTool Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CVSS 6.8 · MEDIUM
⚠ CISA KEV — ACTIVELY EXPLOITED
On the CISA KEV catalog
Confirmed exploited in the wild. Added 2021-11-17.
Federal remediation due 2021-12-01.
Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.
Summary
Improper neutralization of user data in the DjVu file format in ExifTool versions 7.44 and up allows arbitrary code execution when parsing the malicious image
CVSS 3.1 breakdown
| Base score | 6.8 (MEDIUM) |
| Vector | CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L |
| Attack vector | LOCAL |
| Attack complexity | LOW |
| Privileges required | NONE |
| User interaction | NONE |
| Scope | CHANGED |
| Confidentiality | LOW |
| Integrity | LOW |
| Availability | LOW |
Weakness type (CWE)
Affected products
Exiftool_project exiftoolDebian debian linuxFedoraproject fedora
Check this CVE live
Use our free CVE Lookup tool for the latest NVD record, or browse the full CISA KEV catalog.
References
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162558/ExifTool-DjVu-ANT-Perl-Injection.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164768/GitLab-Unauthenticated-Remote-ExifTool-Command-Injection.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164994/GitLab-13.10.2-Remote-Code-Execution.html
- http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167038/ExifTool-12.23-Arbitrary-Code-Execution.html
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/09/1
- http://www.openwall.com/lists/oss-security/2021/05/10/5
- https://github.com/exiftool/exiftool/commit/cf0f4e7dcd024ca99615bfd1102a841a25dde031#diff-fa0d652d10dbcd246e6b1df16c1e992931d3bb717a7e36157596b76bdadb3800
- https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-22204.json
- https://hackerone.com/reports/1154542
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2021/05/msg00018.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/DDKDLJLBTBBR66OOPXSXCG2PQRM5KCZL/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/F6UOBPU3LSHAPRRJNISNVXZ5DSUIALLV/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/U4RF6PJCJ6NQOVJJJF6HN6BORUQVIXY6/
- https://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4910
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22204
Data: NIST NVD + CISA KEV. NVD last modified 2025-11-03. Always verify against the vendor advisory before acting.