{
  "crds_version": "0.1",
  "kind": "base",
  "id": "crds:cve-2021-22204",
  "revision": 1,
  "title": "ExifTool — Code Execution While Parsing Image Metadata",
  "summary": "ExifTool runs attacker-supplied code while parsing metadata in a crafted image, so any service that inspects uploaded pictures can be taken over by uploading one.",
  "source_type": "cve",
  "severity": "high",
  "cvss": {
    "score": 7.8,
    "vector": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
    "version": "3.1"
  },
  "epss": 0.99982,
  "exploitation": {
    "known_exploited": true,
    "exploit_available": true,
    "attack_complexity": "low",
    "kev_added": "2021-11-17",
    "prerequisites": "A service that runs ExifTool over user-supplied files"
  },
  "remediation": {
    "patch_available": true
  },
  "mitre_attack": [
    "T1190",
    "T1059"
  ],
  "kill_chain": "execution",
  "recommended_action": "Upgrade ExifTool to a patched release, and review every service that parses images users can upload.",
  "confidence": "high",
  "provenance": [
    {
      "fields": [
        "cvss",
        "exploitation.attack_complexity",
        "exploitation.exploit_available",
        "references",
        "published_at"
      ],
      "source": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22204",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-08-07T16:10:10.311Z",
      "confidence": "high",
      "extractor": "scrty-crds-pipeline/0.1"
    },
    {
      "fields": [
        "exploitation.known_exploited",
        "exploitation.kev_added"
      ],
      "source": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-08-07T16:10:10.311Z",
      "confidence": "high",
      "extractor": "scrty-crds-pipeline/0.1"
    },
    {
      "fields": [
        "epss"
      ],
      "source": "https://api.first.org/data/v1/epss?cve=CVE-2021-22204",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-08-07T16:10:10.311Z",
      "confidence": "high",
      "extractor": "scrty-crds-pipeline/0.1"
    },
    {
      "fields": [
        "title",
        "summary",
        "severity",
        "remediation",
        "mitre_attack",
        "kill_chain",
        "recommended_action",
        "confidence",
        "tags",
        "exploitation.prerequisites"
      ],
      "source": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22204",
      "retrieved_at": "2026-08-07T16:10:10.311Z",
      "confidence": "high",
      "extractor": "claude-code"
    }
  ],
  "references": [
    {
      "type": "cve",
      "url": "https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22204",
      "label": "NVD record"
    },
    {
      "type": "cisa",
      "url": "https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog",
      "label": "CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog"
    },
    {
      "type": "vendor_advisory",
      "url": "https://github.com/exiftool/exiftool/commit/cf0f4e7dcd024ca99615bfd1102a841a25dde031#diff-fa0d652d10dbcd246e6b1df16c1e992931d3bb717a7e36157596b76bdadb3800"
    },
    {
      "type": "exploit",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/162558/ExifTool-DjVu-ANT-Perl-Injection.html"
    },
    {
      "type": "exploit",
      "url": "http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164768/GitLab-Unauthenticated-Remote-ExifTool-Command-Injection.html"
    }
  ],
  "published_at": "2021-04-23T18:15:08.127Z",
  "issued_at": "2026-08-07T16:10:10.311Z",
  "tags": [
    "exiftool",
    "perl",
    "image-parsing",
    "supply-chain"
  ]
}