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CVE Record

CVE-2021-37619: Out-of-bounds read in Exiv2::Jp2Image::encodeJp2Header

Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. An out-of-bounds read was found in Exiv2 versions v0.27.4 and earlier. The out-of-bounds read is triggered when Exiv2 is used to write metadata into a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to cause a denial of service by crashing Exiv2, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file. Note that this bug is only triggered when writing the metadata, which is a less frequently used Exiv2 operation than reading the metadata. For example, to trigger the bug in the Exiv2 command-line application, you need to add an extra command-line argument such as insert. The bug is fixed in version v0.27.5.

MediumCVSS 4.7Not KEV-listedUpdated
Glexia's TakeAutomated analysismoderate

Security readout for executives and security teams

Plain-English summary

CVE-2021-37619 can crash Exiv2 when it writes metadata into a maliciously crafted image. Business impact is mainly denial of service in image-processing workflows, not data theft. The bug affects Exiv2 v0.27.4 and earlier and is fixed in v0.27.5.

Executive priority

Treat as a moderate availability risk. Prioritize patching where Exiv2 handles untrusted images in automated production workflows, especially services that write metadata. Lower urgency is reasonable for systems that only read metadata or are not exposed to untrusted image inputs.

Technical view

Exiv2 has a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read in Exiv2::Jp2Image::encodeJp2Header. The vulnerable path is triggered during metadata writing, not ordinary metadata reading. CVSS is 4.7: local attack vector, high complexity, user interaction required, and high availability impact only.

Likely exposure

Exposure is most likely in servers, desktop tools, or pipelines using Exiv2 <= 0.27.4 to write metadata to images supplied by users, partners, or external feeds. Read-only metadata inspection is less exposed based on the advisory.

Exploitation context

The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Successful abuse requires a victim workflow to process a crafted image through a metadata-writing operation. The advisory notes the Exiv2 CLI requires an additional writing-oriented argument such as insert.

Researcher notes

Primary evidence identifies a write-path out-of-bounds read in JP2 header encoding, fixed through upstream PR 1752 and released in v0.27.5. Public sources support denial-of-service impact only. No source in the bundle supports confidentiality impact, integrity impact, or active exploitation.

Mitigation direction

  • Upgrade Exiv2 to v0.27.5 or later.
  • Apply distribution security updates from Fedora, Gentoo, or your OS vendor.
  • Avoid metadata-writing operations on untrusted images until patched.
  • Check vendor guidance for any backported package fixes.

Validation and detection

  • Inventory installed Exiv2 package and library versions.
  • Identify applications or services embedding the Exiv2 C++ library.
  • Confirm whether workflows write metadata to externally supplied images.
  • Verify patched packages are deployed across image-processing hosts.
Prepared
Confidence
high
Sources
7

Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.

Potential ATT&CK relevance

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

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cwe · low confidence lookup

CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup

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cve · low confidence lookup

CVE-2021-37619 mapping review

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Vulnerability profileCVE Program record
Severity
Medium
CVSS
4.7 (3.1)
Known Exploited
No
Published

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Official CVE source material

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.

1CVSS vectors
0Timeline events
0ADP providers
6Source links

CVSS vector scores

1 official score

We 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.

ScoreVersionSeverityVectorExploitImpactSource
4.7CVSS 3.1MediumCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H13.6Primary CVE score

Vulnerability scoring details

Base CVSS 3.1 score

4.7Medium
CVSS 3.1 vector shape for CVE-2021-37619Attack VectorAttack ComplexityPrivileges RequiredUser InteractionScopeConfidentiality ImpactIntegrity ImpactAvailability Impact

Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H

Attack Vector
NetworkAdjacentLocalPhysical
Attack Complexity
LowHigh
Privileges Required
NoneLowHigh
User Interaction
NoneRequired
Scope
ChangedUnchanged
Confidentiality Impact
HighLowNone
Integrity Impact
HighLowNone
Availability Impact
HighLowNone

Source materials

Affected products

Products and packages named in the record

VendorProductVersion / packageStatus
Exiv2exiv2<= 0.27.4Listed
Weakness

CWE details

CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.

CWE-125 · source CWE mapping

Out-of-bounds Read

Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.