CVE-2021-22204
Improper Control of Generation of Code
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
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
Official description from the CVE record, published by GitLab. Copyright © 1999-2026 The MITRE Corporation. See /security/cve/legal for the CVE license. View the record on cve.org
Key data
CVSS 3.1 Medium 6.8
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Attack vector: Local
The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something.
Attack complexity: Low
No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will.
Privileges required: None
No account or privileges are needed.
User interaction: None
No action from any user is needed.
Scope: Changed
The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one.
Confidentiality impact: Low
Limited effect on the secrecy of data.
Integrity impact: Low
Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data.
Availability impact: Low
Limited effect on availability.
| Metric | Value | What it means |
|---|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local | The attacker needs local access to the system, or to trick a user into running something. |
| Attack complexity | Low | No special conditions are needed. The attack can be repeated at will. |
| Privileges required | None | No account or privileges are needed. |
| User interaction | None | No action from any user is needed. |
| Scope | Changed | The impact can reach other components beyond the vulnerable one. |
| Confidentiality impact | Low | Limited effect on the secrecy of data. |
| Integrity impact | Low | Limited effect on the trustworthiness of data. |
| Availability impact | Low | Limited effect on availability. |
CVSS is owned and managed by FIRST.Org, Inc. (FIRST) and is used by permission. Each CVSS score on this site is shown together with its vector string, as published in the CVE record by the source named next to it. Learn more at first.org/cvss.
EPSS
- Score
- 0.99981 (99.98% probability)
- Percentile
- 99.98%
- Scores of
- Nov 10, 2026
- Model
- v2026.06.15
CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities
- Name in the catalog
- ExifTool Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
- Added to the catalog
- Nov 17, 2021
- Federal due date
- Dec 1, 2021
CISA assessment as of Feb 6, 2025
- Exploitation
- Recorded by CISA as active
- Automatable
- no
- Technical impact
- partial
Weakness (CWE)
- CWE-94Improper Control of Generation of Code
Affected products
ExifTool
- affected: >=7.44, <12.24
References
- github.com/exiftool/exiftool/commit/cf0f4e7dcd024ca99615bfd…
- hackerone.com/reports/1154542
- gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-2220…
- DSA-4910 (debian.org)vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-de850ed71e (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-e3d8833d36 (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-88d24aa32b (lists.fedoraproject.org)vendor-advisory
- [oss-security] 20210509 [CVE-2021-22204] ExifTool - Arbitrary code execution in the DjVu module when parsing a malicious image (openwall.com)mailing-list
- [oss-security] 20210510 Re: [CVE-2021-22204] ExifTool - Arbitrary code execution in the DjVu module when parsing a malicious image (openwall.com)mailing-list
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/162558/ExifTool-DjVu-ANT-Perl…
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210516 [SECURITY] [DLA 2663-1] libimage-exiftool-perl security update (lists.debian.org)mailing-list
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/164768/GitLab-Unauthenticated…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/164994/GitLab-13.10.2-Remote-…
- packetstormsecurity.com/files/167038/ExifTool-12.23-Arbitra…
Timeline
- ID reserved
- Record published
- Added to CISA KEV
- Record last updated
Look up another CVE
About CubePath
Data from the CVE Program (MITRE), CISA KEV and FIRST EPSS. CVSS is owned by FIRST and used by permission. Not affiliated with or endorsed by MITRE, CISA or FIRST. Data as of Nov 10, 2026, 19:52 UTC. Sources and licenses