CVE-2005-4676: Buffer overflow in Andreas Huggel Exiv2 before 0.9 does not null terminate strings before calling the sscanf f

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MEDIUM 5.0DOWNGRADE

CVE-2005-4676 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.0) affecting exiv2. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

Buffer overflow in Andreas Huggel Exiv2 before 0.9 does not null terminate strings before calling the sscanf function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via images with crafted IPTC metadata.

Why this priority

EPSS top 9%: very likely to be exploited
Public exploit reference

No fix is published yet: follow the downgrade or mitigation steps.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.0 (Medium)
EPSS exploit chance	4.1% (top 9%)
CISA exploited list	No
Published	2005-12-31
Last modified	2026-06-16

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: andreas huggel

Last updated 2026-06-16 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2005-12-31 05:00 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-16 22:19 UTCUpdated Record last modified

andreas huggel exiv2 DOWNGRADE

Affected: 0.3 · 0.4 · 0.5 · 0.6 · 0.6.1 · 0.6.2 · 0.7 · 0.8

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 0.3

1. Check installed version

apt-cache policy exiv2 || rpm -q exiv2 || exiv2 --version

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE to a release before 0.3 (Debian / Ubuntu)

apt-cache madison exiv2 sudo apt install exiv2=<VERSION_BEFORE_0.3> sudo apt-mark hold exiv2

2. No fixed release: DOWNGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

dnf --showduplicates list exiv2 sudo dnf downgrade exiv2-<VERSION_BEFORE_0.3> sudo dnf versionlock add exiv2

Downgrade risk

Downgrading can break dependent software and may reopen older bugs. Read the distro advisory first and test on a non-production host.

After downgrade

Restart the service, and keep the package held until a fixed release ships.

Public exploits and detection

Public code exists for this CVE. Treat unpatched systems as at risk, and only run PoCs in a lab.

Exploit-DB: Exiv2 - Corrupted EXIF Data Denial of Service

Verify at the official source NVD · CVE Program · Report a problem with this page
Scores and fixes here are computed automatically from those and other public sources. Confirm with the vendor advisory before changing production systems.

Quick answers

How do I fix CVE-2005-4676?

exiv2: downgrade or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2005-4676 being exploited?

CVE-2005-4676 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

What does CVE-2005-4676 affect?

CVE-2005-4676 affects exiv2. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.0). Buffer overflow in Andreas Huggel Exiv2 before 0.9 does not null terminate strings before calling the sscanf function, which allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service (application crash) via images with crafted IPTC metadata.

How urgent is CVE-2005-4676?

Priority 45/100. EPSS top 9%: very likely to be exploited; Public exploit reference

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CVE-2026-25884 HIGH 8.1 UPGRADE Exiv2 is a C++ library and a command-line utility to read, write, delete and modify Exif, IPTC, XMP and ICC im

References

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