CVE-2021-29623: Uninitialized variable bug in Exiv2

Published May 13, 2021
·
Updated

A read of uninitialized memory was found in Exiv2 versions v0.27.3 and earlier. The read of uninitialized memory is triggered when Exiv2 is used to read the metadata of a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to leak a few bytes of stack memory, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file.

Reference:

https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/advisories/GHSA-6253-qjwm-3q4v

Upstream Patch:

https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/pull/1627

Other sources

Exiv2 is a C++ library and a command-line utility to read, write, delete and modify Exif, IPTC, XMP and ICC image metadata. A read of uninitialized memory was found in Exiv2 versions v0.27.3 and earlier. Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. The read of uninitialized memory is triggered when Exiv2 is used to read the metadata of a crafted image file. An attacker could potentially exploit the vulnerability to leak a few bytes of stack memory, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file. The bug is fixed in version v0.27.4.

MITRE

Affected Software

4 affected componentsFixes available
redhat/exiv2<0.27.4
0.27.4
exiv2 exiv2<0.27.4
fedoraproject fedora=33
fedoraproject fedora=34

Event History

May 13, 2021
CVE Published
12:00 AM
Data Sourced
12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2021-29623?

CVE-2021-29623 is categorized as a medium severity vulnerability due to its potential to leak sensitive information from uninitialized memory.

2

How do I fix CVE-2021-29623?

To fix CVE-2021-29623, upgrade Exiv2 to version 0.27.4 or later.

3

Which versions of Exiv2 are affected by CVE-2021-29623?

Exiv2 versions v0.27.3 and earlier are affected by CVE-2021-29623.

4

Can CVE-2021-29623 be exploited by an attacker?

Yes, CVE-2021-29623 can potentially be exploited by an attacker to leak a few bytes of stack memory.

5

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2021-29623?

CVE-2021-29623 is classified as a memory-related vulnerability due to the read of uninitialized memory.

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