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CVE-2021-22204

ExifTool Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

  • Medium 6.8
  • Exploited: added to CISA KEV 17 Nov 2021

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

Key facts

Published
23 Apr 2021
Last changed
21 Oct 2025
Assigned by
GitLab
KEV added
17 Nov 2021
KEV fix due
1 Dec 2021
EPSS
99.981% likely to be exploited in the next 30 days, higher than 99.981% of CVEs (scores for 15 Nov 2026)
SSVC (CISA)
Exploitation: active; Automatable: no; Technical impact: partial

Severity scores

Each score is shown as its source gave it. They are not averaged or merged.

  • 6.8CVSS 3.1, Mediumfrom the CNA (GitLab)CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

What to do

  • Apply updates per vendor instructions.CISA KEV required action

Historical context and remediation

This reference retains the original CVE publication date. A recent record update does not mean a new attack occurred.

No separately sourced impact summary is available on this page yet. Consult the description, version data and dated exploitation evidence.

Version statuses below come from the CNA. An “unaffected” version is not necessarily a currently supported release or proof of a patch date. EPSS is a dated risk estimate, not a count of historical attacks.

Read the original CVE record.

Affected products

VendorProductVersions
ExifToolExifTool
  • >=7.44, <12.24 (affected)

Timeline

  1. 23 Apr 2021 Published
  2. 17 Nov 2021 CVE-2021-22204 added to CISA KEV
  3. 17 Nov 2021 Added to the CISA KEV catalogue

Weakness

References