File read and write via argument injection
Published May 11, 2026 · Updated May 11, 2026
Argument injection in PhotoStructure exiftool-vendored before 35.19.0 allows remote attackers to read files or write output to chosen paths. ExifToolTask renders caller-controlled tag names, paths, and options into newline-delimited ExifTool input without rejecting CR or LF characters, so one value becomes multiple arguments. Exploitation requires a consuming application to pass attacker-controlled strings to an affected API; access is limited to files and paths available to the ExifTool process, and no code execution is demonstrated.
Summary
What happened
Argument injection in PhotoStructure exiftool-vendored before 35.19.0 allows remote attackers to read files or write output to chosen paths. ExifToolTask renders caller-controlled tag names, paths, and options into newline-delimited ExifTool input without rejecting CR or LF characters, so one value becomes multiple arguments. Exploitation requires a consuming application to pass attacker-controlled strings to an affected API; access is limited to files and paths available to the ExifTool process, and no code execution is demonstrated.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2026-43893
- Published
- May 11, 2026
- Updated
- May 11, 2026
- Vendor
- PhotoStructure
- Product
- exiftool-vendored
- Classifications
- CWE-88, T1190
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 11, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- May 11, 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=< 35.19.0
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
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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