Unauthenticated command execution via crafted DjVu uploads
Published Apr 23, 2021 · Updated Aug 6, 2026
Code injection in GitLab CE/EE allows remote attackers to execute commands through crafted image uploads without authentication. GitLab Workhorse processes uploads before authentication and passes a disguised DjVu image to ExifTool, whose DjVu parser evaluates attacker-controlled text. Any reachable self-managed instance in the affected ranges can be compromised without an account, CSRF token, or valid endpoint.
Summary
What happened
Code injection in GitLab CE/EE allows remote attackers to execute commands through crafted image uploads without authentication. GitLab Workhorse processes uploads before authentication and passes a disguised DjVu image to ExifTool, whose DjVu parser evaluates attacker-controlled text. Any reachable self-managed instance in the affected ranges can be compromised without an account, CSRF token, or valid endpoint.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-22205
- Published
- Apr 23, 2021
- Updated
- Aug 6, 2026
- Vendor
- GitLab
- Product
- GitLab
- Classifications
- CWE-94, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Apr 23, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- Nov 3, 2021Exploitation reportedCISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listing
- Aug 6, 2026Record 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.
- Affected versionversion=>=11.9, <13.8.8
- Affected versionversion=>=13.10, <13.10.3
- Affected versionversion=>=13.9, <13.9.6
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
- GitLab unauthenticated remote code execution exploit.pyfunctional · unverified
- Rapid7 GitLab ExifTool exploit requestproof of concept · demonstrated
Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.
Reported exploitation
- CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities listingknown exploited catalog
- GitLab-confirmed exploitation of public-facing Self-Managed instancesreported exploitation
Technologies
Your stack
See the directory against your own environment.
Your stack
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