CVE-2021-37622Public exploit

Process hang via unchecked incomplete JPEG read

Published Aug 9, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Infinite-loop denial of service in Exiv2 0.27.4 and earlier allows local users to hang the utility by processing a crafted JPEG file. JpegBase::printStructure accepts an incomplete read while deleting IPTC data and loses track of the file position, so the parsing loop never reaches an exit. Execution requires a user or calling application to process the file in the uncommon IPTC-deletion command-line mode, and the resulting impact is a hang of that Exiv2 process.

CVSS severity5.5
Medium
EPSS probability1.11%
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 0.27.4 and earlier allows local users to hang the utility by processing a crafted JPEG file. JpegBase::printStructure accepts an incomplete read while deleting IPTC data and loses track of the file position, so the parsing loop never reaches an exit. Execution requires a user or calling application to process the file in the uncommon IPTC-deletion command-line mode, and the resulting impact is a hang of that Exiv2 process.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-37622
Published
Aug 9, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Exiv2
Product
Exiv2
Classifications
CWE-835, T1499.004
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 9, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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=<= 0.27.4

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Exiv2 · Exiv2version=<= 0.27.4

Published CVSS scores

5.5NISTCVSS: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
5.5UbuntuCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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)
Vectorlocal
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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