CVE-2021-32815
CVE-2021-32815 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Exiv2 with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-617.
Key facts
- Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
- CVSS v2: 4.3
- EPSS exploit prediction: 1% (62nd percentile)
- Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
- Weakness: CWE-617
- Affected product: Exiv2
- Published:
- Last modified:
Description
Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. The assertion failure is triggered when Exiv2 is used to modify the metadata of a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to cause a denial of service, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file. Note that this bug is only triggered when modifying 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 `fi`. ### Patches The bug is fixed in version v0.27.5. ### References Regression test and bug fix: #1739 ### For more information Please see our [security policy](https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/policy) for information about Exiv2 security.
Frequently asked questions
- What is CVE-2021-32815?
- Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. The assertion failure is triggered when Exiv2 is used to modify the metadata of a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to cause a denial of service, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file. Note that this bug is only triggered when modifying 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 `fi`. ### Patches The bug is fixed in version v0.27.5. ### References Regression test and bug fix: #1739 ### For more information Please see our [security policy](https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/policy) for information about Exiv2 security.
- How severe is CVE-2021-32815?
- CVE-2021-32815 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires no privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity none, and availability high.
- Is CVE-2021-32815 being actively exploited?
- It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 1% (62nd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
- What products are affected by CVE-2021-32815?
- CVE-2021-32815 primarily affects Exiv2. In total, 4 product configurations (CPEs) are listed as vulnerable; see the affected-products list for the exact versions.
- How do I fix CVE-2021-32815?
- Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
- When was CVE-2021-32815 published?
- CVE-2021-32815 was published on 2021-08-09 and last updated on 2026-06-17.
References
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/pull/1739
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/advisories/GHSA-mv9g-fxh2-m49m
- https://lists.debian.org/debian-lts-announce/2023/01/msg00004.html
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/FMDT4PJB7P43WSOM3TRQIY3J33BAFVVE/
- https://lists.fedoraproject.org/archives/list/package-announce%40lists.fedoraproject.org/message/UYGDELIFFJWKUU7SO3QATCIXCZJERGAC/
- https://security.gentoo.org/glsa/202312-06
Affected products (4)
- cpe:2.3:a:exiv2:exiv2:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:33:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:fedoraproject:fedora:34:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
- cpe:2.3:o:debian:debian_linux:10.0:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
More vulnerabilities in Exiv2
- CVE-2025-26623 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Exiv2 is a C++ library and a command-line utility to read, write, delete and modify Exif, IPTC, XMP and ICC image…
- CVE-2018-11531 — Critical (CVSS 9.8): Exiv2 0.26 has a heap-based buffer overflow in getData in preview.cpp.
- CVE-2023-44398 — High (CVSS 8.8): Exiv2 is a C++ library and a command-line utility to read, write, delete and modify Exif, IPTC, XMP and ICC image…
- CVE-2019-9144 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue was discovered in Exiv2 0.27. There is infinite recursion at BigTiffImage::printIFD in the file…
- CVE-2019-9143 — High (CVSS 8.8): An issue was discovered in Exiv2 0.27. There is infinite recursion at Exiv2::Image::printTiffStructure in the file…
- CVE-2018-14046 — High (CVSS 8.8): Exiv2 0.26 has a heap-based buffer over-read in WebPImage::decodeChunks in webpimage.cpp.
Other CWE-617 (Reachable Assertion) vulnerabilities
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- CVE-2026-31739 — High (CVSS 8.8): In the Linux kernel, the following vulnerability has been resolved: crypto: tegra - Add missing CRYPTO_ALG_ASYNC The…
- CVE-2020-12417 — High (CVSS 8.8): Due to confusion about ValueTags on JavaScript Objects, an object may pass through the type barrier, resulting in…
- CVE-2020-6623 — High (CVSS 8.8): stb stb_truetype.h through 1.22 has an assertion failure in stbtt__cff_get_index.
- CVE-2020-6619 — High (CVSS 8.8): stb stb_truetype.h through 1.22 has an assertion failure in stbtt__buf_seek.