Security readout for executives and security teams
CVE-2021-22204 lets a malicious image trigger code execution when vulnerable ExifTool versions parse DjVu metadata. Executives should treat it as higher priority than the CVSS medium score because CISA KEV marks it as known exploited. Risk is strongest where servers automatically inspect uploaded or received files. Systems are exposed if they run ExifTool >=7.44 and <12.24, especially in automated file upload, attachment processing, image moderation, indexing, CI, or forensic pipelines. Applications bundling or shelling out to ExifTool may inherit the risk, but those products must be confirmed individually. Prioritize remediation where ExifTool runs server-side against user-supplied files. KEV status means this should not wait for routine patch cycles, even though the base CVSS score is medium. Mitigation focus: Upgrade ExifTool to 12.24 or later, or install fixed vendor packages.; Apply Debian, Fedora, or other operating system security updates where ExifTool is packaged.; Identify applications that invoke ExifTool on untrusted uploads or attachments..
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-94: Code execution behavior lookup
Code execution and unsafe deserialization weaknesses often justify reviewing execution behavior and process telemetry. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-22204 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Medium
- CVSS
- 6.8 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- Yes
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CISA KEV status
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L2.53.7Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
6.8MediumVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:L/I:L/A:L
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://github.com/exiftool/exiftool/commit/cf0f4e7dcd024ca99615bfd1102a841a25dde031#diff-fa0d652d10dbcd246e6b1df16c1e992931d3bb717a7e36157596b76bdadb3800CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://hackerone.com/reports/1154542CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-22204.jsonCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
- DSA-4910CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_DEBIAN
- FEDORA-2021-de850ed71eCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- FEDORA-2021-e3d8833d36CVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- FEDORA-2021-88d24aa32bCVE reference · vendor-advisory, x_refsource_FEDORA
- [debian-lts-announce] 20210516 [SECURITY] [DLA 2663-1] libimage-exiftool-perl security updateCVE reference · mailing-list, x_refsource_MLIST
- https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22204CVE reference · government-resource
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection')
Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.