CVE-2021-32815

Process crash via unchecked CRW metadata extent

Published Aug 9, 2021 · Updated Nov 19, 2024

Reachable assertion in Exiv2 0.27.4 and earlier allows attackers to crash the process by modifying metadata in a crafted image. In packIfdId, a tag-derived offset plus metadata size can exceed the destination buffer size, but the function asserts that the extent fits instead of handling the error. Exploitation requires a victim to run a metadata-modifying operation, such as the command-line fi action, on the crafted file; metadata reading alone does not trigger the failure.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.10%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Reachable assertion in Exiv2 0.27.4 and earlier allows attackers to crash the process by modifying metadata in a crafted image. In packIfdId, a tag-derived offset plus metadata size can exceed the destination buffer size, but the function asserts that the extent fits instead of handling the error. Exploitation requires a victim to run a metadata-modifying operation, such as the command-line fi action, on the crafted file; metadata reading alone does not trigger the failure.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-32815
Published
Aug 9, 2021
Updated
Nov 19, 2024
Vendor
Exiv2
Product
Exiv2
Classifications
CWE-617, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 19, 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?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=< 0.27.5

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Exiv2 · Exiv2version=< 0.27.5

Published CVSS scores

5.5GitHubCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
4.3NISTAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:N/I:N/A:P

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-617Reachable Assertion
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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