CVE-2021-28277Public exploit

Process crash via oversized section-array memmove

Published Mar 23, 2022 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Heap-based buffer overflow in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 allows attackers to crash the process by supplying a crafted JPEG file. RemoveUnknownSections in jpgfile.c miscalculates the memmove length by one Section_t entry after freeing an unknown section, reading past the heap allocation while compacting the section array. A user must run jhead with the -purejpg option against the malicious image; the demonstrated consequence is an AddressSanitizer-detected abort.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.87%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 allows attackers to crash the process by supplying a crafted JPEG file. RemoveUnknownSections in jpgfile.c miscalculates the memmove length by one Section_t entry after freeing an unknown section, reading past the heap allocation while compacting the section array. A user must run jhead with the -purejpg option against the malicious image; the demonstrated consequence is an AddressSanitizer-detected abort.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-28277
Published
Mar 23, 2022
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Unknown vendor
Product
Unknown product
Classifications
CWE-787, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 23, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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 vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Affected products and versions are unavailable in this record.

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NIST NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
7.8UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/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.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1204.002Malicious File

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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