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Vulnerabilities

Vulnerability · CVE-2021-22204

ExifTool Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Apr 23, 2021 · catalog updated Jun 16, 2026 · Perl Exiftool

Patch now

CVE-2021-22204 is in the CISA known-exploited catalog, due Dec 1, 2021. Confirm Perl Exiftool against the vendor advisory and apply that fix. The CVSS score does not change the priority.

Severity
High7.8
Known exploitation
CISA KEV and VulnCheck KEV
EPSS
99.98%
Remediation
Remediation guidance
Affected products
cpe debian/debian linux · cpe exiftool project/exiftool · cpe fedoraproject/fedora · vendor Perl Exiftool

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 Initial-access exploit intelligence.

Are you affected?

Enter the version you run. The result uses only the ranges stored on this record.

The check returns affected, not affected, or incomplete. It does not guess a version that is missing from the record.

  • cpe debian/debian linux10.0
  • cpe debian/debian linux9.0
  • cpe exiftool project/exiftoolversion unspecified
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora32
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora33
  • cpe fedoraproject/fedora34
  • vendor Perl Exiftoolversion unspecified

How to fix CVE-2021-22204

What to do

Three questions, each answered from this record only. Confirm the vendor advisory before you patch.

Should you patch?

CVE-2021-22204 is in the CISA known-exploited catalog, due Dec 1, 2021. Confirm Perl Exiftool against the vendor advisory and apply that fix. The CVSS score does not change the priority.

Which versions are affected?

Compare what you have installed with debian/debian linux 10.0; debian/debian linux 9.0. Apply updates per vendor instructions.

What should an analyst verify?

CWE-94: Code Injection; CWE-95. EPSS 99.98%. The CISA KEV listing is the exploitation evidence. A public exploit reference is linked in Sources. That is not the same as confirmed exploitation. Use the source links for the original advisory.

Code

The project this record applies to. Exploit listings stay in References.

Timeline

Detection, updates, and resolution for this record.

  1. Apr 23, 2021 · Catalog

    Detected

    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

  2. Nov 17, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Known exploited

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  3. Dec 1, 2021 · CISA KEV

    Remediation due

    Apply updates per vendor instructions.

  4. Jun 16, 2026 · Catalog

    Updated

    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

Sources

  • CISA KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2021-22204

    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

    cisa.gov
  • CVE.orgVulnerability recordCVE-2021-22204

    Official CVE identifier

    cve.org
  • FIRST EPSSExploitation probabilityCVE-2021-22204

    30-day exploitation probability 100.0%

    first.org
  • Exploit DatabasePublic exploit reference50911

    Public archive entry. The exploit body is not stored here.

    exploit-db.com
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_multi/http/gitlab_exif_rce

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • Metasploit ModulesPublic exploit moduleexploit_unix/fileformat/exiftool_djvu_ant_perl_injection

    Public module reference (excellent). Module source is not copied into this catalog.

    rapid7.com
  • NIST NVDVulnerability recordCVE-2021-22204

    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

    nvd.nist.gov
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162558/ExifTool-DjVu-ANT-Perl-Injection.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164768/GitLab-Unauthenticated-Remote-ExifTool-Command-Injection.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164994/GitLab-13.10.2-Remote-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • Packet Storm SecurityCited referencehttp://packetstormsecurity.com/files/167038/ExifTool-12.23-Arbitrary-Code-Execution.html

    Packet Storm link already published on the finding.

    packetstormsecurity.com
  • VulnCheck KEVConfirmed exploitationCVE-2021-22204

    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

    vulncheck.com

References

Freshness

Last verified in this catalog Oct 17, 2026. Significant claims (KEV, EPSS, CVSS, affected ranges) come from the source rows above — open the original publisher for the authoritative advisory.