CVE-2022-21917

Code execution via HEIC heap overflow

Published Jan 11, 2022 · Updated Jan 2, 2025

A heap overflow in Microsoft HEVC Video Extensions before 1.0.43421.0 or 1.0.43422.0 allows attackers to execute code via crafted HEIC images. Windows Imaging Component mishandles objects in memory while rendering a crafted HEIC image, causing a heap buffer overflow. Exploitation requires the image to be rendered in a user context and permits code execution with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability3.63%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

A heap overflow in Microsoft HEVC Video Extensions before 1.0.43421.0 or 1.0.43422.0 allows attackers to execute code via crafted HEIC images. Windows Imaging Component mishandles objects in memory while rendering a crafted HEIC image, causing a heap buffer overflow. Exploitation requires the image to be rendered in a user context and permits code execution with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-21917
Published
Jan 11, 2022
Updated
Jan 2, 2025
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
HEVC Video Extensions
Classifications
CWE-787, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 11, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Jan 2, 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=1.0.0 <1.0.43421.0 & 1.0.43422.0

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · HEVC Video Extensionsversion=1.0.0 <1.0.43421.0 & 1.0.43422.0

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS: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 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-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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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