Which products and versions are affected by CVE-2021-22204?

Affected: ExifTool (Exiftool Project) versions >= >=7.44, <12.24; Debian Linux versions 10.0, 9.0; Fedora (Fedoraproject) versions 32, 33, 34, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.

Is CVE-2021-22204 being exploited in the wild?

It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 30, 2021.

Is CVE-2021-22204 in the CISA KEV catalog?

Yes. It was added on Nov 17, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of Dec 1, 2021.

Is there a public exploit for CVE-2021-22204?

Public exploit code is available.

Is there a fix for CVE-2021-22204?

Fixed versions are available, including ExifTool 12.25-bp152.4.3.1, ExifTool 12.24, libimage-exiftool-perl 10.10-1ubuntu0.1~esm1.

How urgently should CVE-2021-22204 be patched?

Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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Vulnerability Intelligence

CVE-2021-22204

Q: What is CVE-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

Q: Is CVE-2021-22204 being exploited in the wild?

It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 30, 2021.

Q: Is CVE-2021-22204 in the CISA KEV catalog?

Yes. It was added on Nov 17, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of Dec 1, 2021.

Q: Is there a public exploit for CVE-2021-22204?

Public exploit code is available.

Q: Is there a fix for CVE-2021-22204?

Fixed versions are available, including ExifTool 12.25-bp152.4.3.1, ExifTool 12.24, libimage-exiftool-perl 10.10-1ubuntu0.1~esm1.

Q: How urgently should CVE-2021-22204 be patched?

Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

HighExploitedPublic exploit

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

Published May 4, 2021 · Updated Aug 7, 2026 · Also known as DEBIAN-CVE-2021-22204, DLA-2663-1, DSA-4910-1, UBUNTU-CVE-2021-22204, USN-4987-1, USN-4987-2

Key Facts

Patch immediately

CVE-2021-22204 is a high-severity vulnerability (CVSS 7.8 v3.1) affecting ExifTool (Exiftool Project), Debian Linux, Fedora (Fedoraproject) and 3 more products.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 30, 2021. Public exploit code is available.
EPSS estimates a 100% probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
Fixed versions are available, including ExifTool 12.25-bp152.4.3.1, ExifTool 12.24, libimage-exiftool-perl 10.10-1ubuntu0.1~esm1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

CVSS v3.1

7.8

CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

EPSS (30-day exploit likelihood)

100%

Higher than 99.9% of all scored CVEs

Exploited in the wild

Yes

4 catalog listings

Public exploit code

Available

Proof-of-concept or weaponized module

Get the full CVE-2021-22204 brief as a PDF

Every affected product and fixed release, exploitation status and a first 24 hours response checklist, emailed within minutes.

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

Known-Exploited Catalog Listings

Catalog	Added	Remediation due	Ransomware use
CISA KEV	Nov 17, 2021	Dec 1, 2021	Not reported
Industry KEV feed	Sep 30, 2021	Dec 1, 2021	Not reported
CIRCL KEV	Nov 17, 2021	Dec 1, 2021	Not reported
ENISA EUVD	Nov 17, 2021	n/a	Not reported

Required action: Apply updates per vendor instructions.

Affected Products

45 affected entries in total

Product	Affected versions	Fixed in
ExifToolExiftool Project	>= >=7.44, <12.24	12.24
Debian LinuxDebian	10.0, 9.0	n/a
FedoraFedoraproject	32, 33, 34	n/a
perl-Image-ExifToolarch	See advisory	12.25-1
libimage-exiftool-perldebian	See advisory	12.16+dfsg-2

1 more affected products in the full CVE brief

Patched Releases

ExifTool

12.25-bp152.4.3.1, 12.24

libimage-exiftool-perl

10.10-1ubuntu0.1~esm1, 10.40-1+deb9u1, 10.80-1ubuntu0.1, 11.16-1+deb10u1, 11.88-1ubuntu0.1, 12.16+dfsg-2

perl-File-RandomAccess

12.25-bp152.4.3.1

perl-Image-ExifTool

12.24-r0, 12.25-1, 12.25-bp152.4.3.1

Timeline

Publicly disclosed
May 4, 2021
Added to Industry KEV feed
Sep 30, 2021
Added to CISA KEV
Nov 17, 2021
Added to CIRCL KEV
Nov 17, 2021
Added to ENISA EUVD
Nov 17, 2021
Last updated
Aug 7, 2026

Weakness Type

CWE-94 Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')

References

15 more references in the full CVE brief

FAQ

Common Questions.

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
Affected: ExifTool (Exiftool Project) versions >= >=7.44, <12.24; Debian Linux versions 10.0, 9.0; Fedora (Fedoraproject) versions 32, 33, 34, among others. The full list is in the CVE brief.
It is exploited in the wild, listed in CISA KEV, Industry KEV feed, CIRCL KEV, ENISA EUVD since Sep 30, 2021.
Yes. It was added on Nov 17, 2021 with a federal remediation due date of Dec 1, 2021.
Public exploit code is available.
Fixed versions are available, including ExifTool 12.25-bp152.4.3.1, ExifTool 12.24, libimage-exiftool-perl 10.10-1ubuntu0.1~esm1.
Brandefense priority: patch immediately, because it is listed as exploited in the wild.

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