Exiftool · Exiftool · CVE-2021-22204
**Name of the Vulnerable Software and Affected Versions**
ExifTool versions 7.44 and up
**Description**
The issue is related to improper neutralization of user data in the DjVu file format, allowing arbitrary code execution when parsing malicious images. This could enable a remote attacker to access confidential data, compromise its integrity, and cause a denial of service. The vulnerability was exploited in real-world incidents, including a case where researchers found that VirusTotal could be used to gain remote code execution on certain sandbox machines due to the use of an outdated version of ExifTool. The vulnerability is considered high-risk, with a CVSS score of 7.8.
**Recommendations**
For ExifTool versions 7.44 and up, update to a version that includes the fix for this issue. As a temporary workaround, consider disabling the processing of DjVu files until a patch is available. Restrict access to the vulnerable module to minimize the risk of exploitation. Avoid using the DjVu file format in the affected API endpoint until the issue is resolved. At the moment, there is no information about a newer version that contains a fix for this vulnerability.