CVE-2021-27815: NULL Pointer Deference in the exif command line tool, when printing out XML formatted EXIF data, in exif v0.6.

Q: How do I fix CVE-2021-27815?

exif: upgrade to newer than 0.6.22; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Q: Is CVE-2021-27815 being exploited?

CVE-2021-27815 is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities list at the time of the last update. Check again, as this can change.

Q: What does CVE-2021-27815 affect?

CVE-2021-27815 affects exif, fedora. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). NULL Pointer Deference in the exif command line tool, when printing out XML formatted EXIF data, in exif v0.6.22 and earlier allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by uploading a malicious JPEG file, causing the application to

Q: How urgent is CVE-2021-27815?

Priority 42/100. Public exploit reference

This month

MEDIUM 5.5UPGRADEMITIGATE

CVE-2021-27815 is a medium-severity flaw (CVSS 5.5) affecting exif, fedora. Below: why it ranks where it does, which versions are affected, what to do, and the exact commands.

NULL Pointer Deference in the exif command line tool, when printing out XML formatted EXIF data, in exif v0.6.22 and earlier allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by uploading a malicious JPEG file, causing the application to crash.

Why this priority

Public exploit reference

A fixed release or distro patch exists.

Risk facts

CVSS score	5.5 (Medium)
Attack vector	Local
Attack complexity	Low
Privileges needed	None
User interaction	Required
EPSS exploit chance	1.3% (top 30%)
CISA exploited list	No
Weakness	CWE-476
Published	2021-04-14
Last modified	2026-06-17

Publisher (CNA): MITRE · Vendor: fedoraproject · libexif project

Last updated 2026-06-17 · Sources: CVE Program, NVD, CISA KEV, EPSS and vendor advisories · How we score

Am I affected?

Timeline

2021-04-14 14:15 UTCPublished CVE record published
2026-06-17 03:45 UTCUpdated Record last modified

libexif project exif UPGRADE

Affected: <= 0.6.22

Fixed in: newer than 0.6.22

Safe to downgrade to: no unaffected older release

1. Check installed version

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

2. UPGRADE to newer than 0.6.22 (Debian / Ubuntu)

sudo apt update && sudo apt install --only-upgrade exif

2. UPGRADE (RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora)

sudo dnf upgrade exif

Note

Distros often backport fixes without changing the version number. Confirm with the distro advisory or changelog.

fedoraproject fedora MITIGATE

Affected: 32 · 33 · 34

Fixed in: no fixed release known

Safe to downgrade to: a release before 32

Check your OS release

cat /etc/os-release; uname -r

Debian / Ubuntu

sudo apt update && sudo apt full-upgrade

RHEL / Amazon Linux / Fedora

sudo dnf upgrade --refresh

Windows

Install the latest cumulative update from Windows Update

If no patch exists yet

OS downgrades are not safe. Apply the vendor mitigation from the advisory and restrict exposure.

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-2021-27815?

exif: upgrade to newer than 0.6.22; fedora: mitigate or apply the listed mitigation. Exact commands for each OS are on this page.

Is CVE-2021-27815 being exploited?

CVE-2021-27815 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-2021-27815 affect?

CVE-2021-27815 affects exif, fedora. Severity is medium (CVSS 5.5). NULL Pointer Deference in the exif command line tool, when printing out XML formatted EXIF data, in exif v0.6.22 and earlier allows attackers to cause a Denial of Service (DoS) by uploading a malicious JPEG file, causing the application to

How urgent is CVE-2021-27815?

Priority 42/100. Public exploit reference

Related CVEs

CVE-2012-2845 MEDIUM 6.4 DOWNGRADE Integer overflow in the jpeg_data_load_data function in jpeg-data.c in libjpeg in exif 0.6.20 allows remote at
CVE-2009-1501 MEDIUM 4.3 DOWNGRADE Cross-site scripting (XSS) vulnerability in the Exif module 5.x-1.x before 5.x-1.2 and 6.x-1.x-dev before Apri

References

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