CVE-2019-20421Public exploitNetwork attack vector

Service hang via unchecked JP2 sub-box seek

Published Jan 27, 2020 · Updated Aug 5, 2024

Infinite-loop denial of service in Exiv2 0.27.2 allows remote attackers to hang metadata processing via a crafted JP2 file. Jp2Image::readMetadata() follows attacker-controlled sub-box lengths without checking seek failure or limiting box iterations, so malformed input can prevent parser progress. Processing the file pins the invoking process at high CPU; published evidence reports no confidentiality or integrity impact.

CVSS severity7.5
High
EPSS probability4.30%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Infinite-loop denial of service in Exiv2 0.27.2 allows remote attackers to hang metadata processing via a crafted JP2 file. Jp2Image::readMetadata() follows attacker-controlled sub-box lengths without checking seek failure or limiting box iterations, so malformed input can prevent parser progress. Processing the file pins the invoking process at high CPU; published evidence reports no confidentiality or integrity impact.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-20421
Published
Jan 27, 2020
Updated
Aug 5, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499.004
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 27, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 5, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Affected buildAffected product and version details are unavailable.

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

7.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:C
7.5NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-835Loop with Unreachable Exit Condition ('Infinite Loop')
T1499.004Application or System Exploitation

Public exploit references

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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