CVE-2021-32617: Denial of service in Exiv2

Published May 17, 2021
·
Updated

Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. An inefficient algorithm (quadratic complexity) was found in Exiv2 versions v0.27.3 and earlier. The inefficient algorithm 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, if they can trick the victim into running Exiv2 on a crafted image file. The bug is fixed in version v0.27.4. 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 rm.

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 17, 2021
CVE Published
12:00 AM
Data Sourced
12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Free Weekly Intel

Don't miss critical vulnerabilities

Join thousands of security professionals who receive our weekly digest of trending CVEs, zero-days, and exploited vulnerabilities.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2021-32617?

CVE-2021-32617 has been categorized with a severity rating that indicates a potential denial-of-service vulnerability due to an inefficient algorithm.

2

How do I fix CVE-2021-32617?

To fix CVE-2021-32617, update Exiv2 to version 0.27.4 or later.

3

Which versions of Exiv2 are affected by CVE-2021-32617?

Exiv2 versions prior to 0.27.4 are affected by CVE-2021-32617.

4

What types of software does CVE-2021-32617 impact?

CVE-2021-32617 impacts Exiv2 as well as specific Fedora distributions such as Fedora 33 and 34.

5

What type of vulnerability is CVE-2021-32617?

CVE-2021-32617 is classified as a denial-of-service vulnerability caused by inefficient processing of metadata in image files.

Contact

SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
132 Wickham Terrace
Fortitude Valley,
QLD 4006, Australia
info@secalerts.co
By using SecAlerts services, you agree to our services end-user license agreement. This website is safeguarded by reCAPTCHA and governed by the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service. All names, logos, and brands of products are owned by their respective owners, and any usage of these names, logos, and brands for identification purposes only does not imply endorsement. If you possess any content that requires removal, please get in touch with us.
© 2026 SecAlerts Pty Ltd.
ABN: 70 645 966 203, ACN: 645 966 203