CVE-2021-22204Known exploitationPublic exploit

Arbitrary code execution via DjVu annotation eval

Published Apr 23, 2021 · Updated Oct 21, 2025

Eval injection in ExifTool 7.44 through 12.23 allows local users to execute arbitrary code by supplying a malicious image for parsing. DjVu ParseAnt passed quoted annotation tokens to Perl eval to decode escape sequences, allowing token content to become executable code. Execution inherits the privileges of the process invoking ExifTool, and crafted DjVu content can be embedded in several accepted file formats.

CVSS severity6.8
Medium
EPSS probability99.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationReported
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Eval injection in ExifTool 7.44 through 12.23 allows local users to execute arbitrary code by supplying a malicious image for parsing. DjVu ParseAnt passed quoted annotation tokens to Perl eval to decode escape sequences, allowing token content to become executable code. Execution inherits the privileges of the process invoking ExifTool, and crafted DjVu content can be embedded in several accepted file formats.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-22204
Published
Apr 23, 2021
Updated
Oct 21, 2025
Vendor
Phil Harvey
Product
ExifTool
Classifications
T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 17, 2021Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog listing
  3. Oct 21, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=>=7.44, <12.24

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Phil Harvey · ExifToolversion=>=7.44, <12.24

Published CVSS scores

6.8GitLab Inc.CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

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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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationReported
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

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Reported exploitation

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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