Perl · Exiftool
CVE-2021-22204
ExifTool Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CISA KEV record
- CISA date added
- 2021-11-17
- CISA due date
- 2021-12-01
- Known ransomware use
- Unknown
NVD risk context
7.8 HIGH
CVSS is a technical severity score. CISA’s KEV status remains the evidence that this vulnerability is known to be exploited.
Description
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
Required action
Apply updates per vendor instructions.
NVD reference index
Vendor and remediation references
NVD has tagged these sources as vendor advisories, patches, mitigations, or release notes.
- https://github.com/exiftool/exiftool/commit/cf0f4e7dcd024ca99615bfd1102a841a25dde031#diff-fa0d652d10dbcd246e6b1df16c1e992931d3bb717a7e36157596b76bdadb3800 ↗
- 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/ ↗
Other NVD references (11)
- 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://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://www.debian.org/security/2021/dsa-4910 ↗
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22204 ↗
MITRE CWE context
CWE classification
The product receives input from an upstream component, but it does not neutralize or incorrectly neutralizes code syntax before using the input in a dynamic evaluation call (e.g. "eval").
View official MITRE CWE details ↗NVD record timing
NVD record timeline
These dates describe NVD’s record, not CISA’s KEV addition or remediation due date.
- NVD published
- Apr 23, 2021, 06:15 PM UTC When NVD first published this CVE record.
- NVD last updated
- Jun 17, 2026, 03:36 AM UTC When NVD last changed its analysis or record data.
Advanced: view the technical CVSS vector
This standardized code is intended for security tools and technical analysts. The plain-language risk summary above explains its main points.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CISA notes
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22204