CVE-2021-37622: Denial of service due to infinite loop in JpegBase::printStructure (#1)

Published Aug 9, 2021
·
Updated

Exiv2 is a command-line utility and C++ library for reading, writing, deleting, and modifying the metadata of image files. An infinite loop was found in Exiv2 versions v0.27.4 and earlier. The infinite loop 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 deleting the IPTC data, which is a less frequently used Exiv2 operation that requires an extra command line option (-d I rm). The bug is fixed in version v0.27.5.

Affected Software

4 affected components
exiv2 exiv2<=0.27.4
Fedoraproject Fedora=33
Fedoraproject Fedora=34
Debian Debian Linux=10.0

Remediation

Recommended actions to resolve this vulnerability, in priority order.

  1. Upgrade

    Upgrade exiv2 to a version that resolves this vulnerability.

    Fixed in v0.27.5
  2. Configuration

    Do not run Exiv2 with the IPTC deletion operation that uses the extra command line option sequence (`-d I rm`) on crafted/untrusted images; this is the less frequently used operation that triggers the infinite loop DoS in v0.27.4 and earlier.

    Exiv2 CLI (metadata deletion) Command-line option sequence triggering IPTC deletion (extra command line option `-d I rm`) = Avoid using `-d I rm` on untrusted images

Event History

Aug 9, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·12:00 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·12:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Data Sourced
via NVD·07:15 PM
RemedyDescriptionSeverityWeaknessAffected Software
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is the severity of CVE-2021-37622?

CVE-2021-37622 is classified with a moderate severity due to the potential for denial of service.

2

How do I fix CVE-2021-37622?

To fix CVE-2021-37622, you should upgrade Exiv2 to version 0.27.5 or later.

3

Which software versions are affected by CVE-2021-37622?

CVE-2021-37622 affects Exiv2 versions up to and including 0.27.4.

4

What does CVE-2021-37622 exploit?

CVE-2021-37622 exploits an infinite loop vulnerability occurring when modifying crafted image file metadata.

5

Is CVE-2021-37622 present in Fedora or Debian systems?

Yes, CVE-2021-37622 is present in affected versions of Fedora 33, Fedora 34, and Debian 10.0.

Contact

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