Description
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 products
| Vendor | Product | Affected | Fixed |
|---|---|---|---|
| Exiv2 | exiv2 | <= 0.27.3 | — |
Fixed in Linux distributions
Distributions backport fixes, so the version that fixes this vulnerability differs per release — upgrade to at least the version shown. From the distributions' security trackers and advisories.
Debian
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Debian 14 | exiv2 | 0.27.5-1 | — |
| Debian 13 | exiv2 | 0.27.5-1 | — |
| Debian 12 | exiv2 | 0.27.5-1 | — |
Ubuntu
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu 20.04 LTS | exiv2 | 0.27.2-8ubuntu2.4 | USN-4964-1 |
| Ubuntu 18.04 LTS | exiv2 | 0.25-3.1ubuntu0.18.04.9 | USN-4964-1 |
Show 1 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ubuntu Pro 16.04 LTS | exiv2 | 0.25-2.1ubuntu16.04.7+esm2 | USN-4964-1 |
Red Hat
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| RHEL 8 | exiv2 +3 | 0.27.4-5.el8 | RHSA-2021:4173 |
AlmaLinux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| AlmaLinux 8 | exiv2 +3 | 0.27.4-5.el8 | ALSA-2021:4173 |
Rocky Linux
Errata ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rocky Linux 8 | exiv2 | 0.27.4-5.el8 | RLSA-2021:4173 |
SUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 15 SP4 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3889-1, SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLES 15 SP4 | exiv2-0_26 | 0.26-150400.9.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3889-1 |
| SLES 15 SP3 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLES 15 SP2 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLES 15 SP1 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLES 15 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
Show 13 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| SLES 12 SP5 | exiv2 | 0.23-12.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3543-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP2 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 SP1 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLES for SAP 15 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLES for SAP 12 SP5 | exiv2 | 0.23-12.11.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3543-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP2 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 SP1 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SLE HPC 15 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SUSE Manager Server 4.1 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SUSE Manager Retail Branch Server 4.1 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SUSE Manager Proxy 4.1 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 7 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| SUSE Enterprise Storage 6 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
openSUSE
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| openSUSE Tumbleweed | exiv2 | 0.27.5-3.1 | openSUSE-SU-2024:12381-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3889-1, SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.4 | exiv2-0_26 | 0.26-150400.9.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3889-1 |
| openSUSE Leap 15.3 | exiv2 | 0.26-150000.6.16.1 | SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 |
Alpine
Security tracker ↗| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.24 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.23 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.22 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.21 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.20 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
Show 7 more (older releases, extended support, other products)Fewer releases
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alpine v3.19 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.18 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.17 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.16 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.15 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.14 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
| Alpine v3.13 | exiv2 | 0.27.3-r2 | — |
Azure Linux
| Release | Package | Fixed in | Advisory |
|---|---|---|---|
| Azure Linux 2 (CBL-Mariner) | exiv2 | 0.27.5-1 | — |
Advisories 9
- ALSA-2021:4173 Moderate: exiv2 security, bug fix, and enhancement update AlmaLinux Security Advisories · Oct 29, 2026
- RHSA-2021:4173 Red Hat Security Advisory: exiv2 security, bug fix, and enhancement update Red Hat Security Advisories (RHSA) · Jun 27, 2026
- USN-4964-1 exiv2 vulnerabilities Ubuntu Security Notices (USN) · Jun 25, 2026
- RLSA-2021:4173 Moderate: exiv2 security, bug fix, and enhancement update Rocky Linux Security Advisories · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:3543-1 Security update for exiv2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- openSUSE-SU-2024:12381-1 exiv2-0.27.5-3.1 on GA media SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:3598-1 Security update for exiv2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · Feb 4, 2026
- SUSE-SU-2022:3889-1 Security update for exiv2 SUSE / openSUSE Security Updates · May 2, 2025
- WID-SEC-2022-1968 Red Hat Enterprise Linux (exiv2): Mehrere Schwachstellen BSI CERT-Bund (WID) · Aug 23, 2023
References
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/security/advisories/GHSA-w8mv-g8qq-36mj
- https://github.com/Exiv2/exiv2/pull/1657
- FEDORA-2021-d1d5a0bf0f vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-8253c78bd7 vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-bdba47348c vendor-advisory
- FEDORA-2021-8917c5d9d2 vendor-advisory
- GLSA-202312-06 vendor-advisory