CVE-2021-29457: Heap buffer overflow in Exiv2::Jp2Image::doWriteMetadata
Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. A heap buffer overflow was found in Exiv2 versions v0.27.3 and earlier. The heap overflow is triggered when Exiv2 is used to write metadata into a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to gain code execution, 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 v0.27.4.
Affected Software
Remediation
Patch Available
Patch Available
Event History
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the severity of CVE-2021-29457?
CVE-2021-29457 has been classified with a high severity due to the heap buffer overflow vulnerability that can be exploited by crafted image files.
How do I fix CVE-2021-29457?
To mitigate CVE-2021-29457, upgrade Exiv2 to versions 0.27.4 or later on Red Hat or 0.27.6 or later on Debian-based systems.
Which versions of Exiv2 are affected by CVE-2021-29457?
Exiv2 versions 0.27.3 and earlier are affected by CVE-2021-29457, including the default versions available in Debian 10 and Debian 11.
What can happen if CVE-2021-29457 is exploited?
Exploitation of CVE-2021-29457 could lead to a potential crash of the application or execution of arbitrary code due to heap memory corruption.
Is CVE-2021-29457 applicable to any specific operating systems?
CVE-2021-29457 impacts Exiv2 installations on various operating systems, including Debian, Red Hat, and Fedora.