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High, CVSS 7.8amended

Arbitrary code execution in ExifTool

GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68

What to do

Vendor fix available. Upgrade each affected package to the fixed version on its release line (exiftool-vendored 14.3.0), redeploy, then verify what is actually installed.

This page has no inventory attached, so it cannot say whether you are affected. A vendor fix is not proof that your deployment is fixed.

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Affected packages

Sources

Severity and exploitation
Exploitation
No confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next marks exploitation only from CISA KEV.
CVSS
7.8 · CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS
No dated EPSS signal available.
Source description

As published by the source; long descriptions are shortened.

Impact Arbitrary code execution can occur when running exiftool against files with hostile metadata payloads. Patches ExifTool has already been patched in version 12.24. exiftool-vendored, which vendors ExifTool, includes this patch in v14.3.0. Workarounds No. References https://twitter.com/wcbowling/status/1385803927321415687 https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22204 For more information If you have any questions or comments about this advisory: Open an issue in exiftool-vendored

Dates and revisions
Published by the source
Last modified by the source
Source last checked
  1. Revision 2 · amended ·

    Amended from ghsa record GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68

  2. Revision 1 · created ·

    Published from osv record GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68

Agent brief

Preview the exact text before you copy it. Commands are read-only suggestions; review them before running anything.

# Patch Next advisory brief: GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68

Advisory: Arbitrary code execution in ExifTool
IDs: GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68
Record: https://patchnext.com/advisories/ghsa-4whq-r978-2x68 (revision 2, source checked 26 Oct 2026, 12:15 UTC)
Inventory: none attached. This brief comes from a public page and does not say whether any deployment is affected.
Severity: High (CVSS 7.8)
Exploitation: no confirmed exploitation recorded. Patch Next confirms exploitation only from CISA KEV.
Vendor response: Vendor fix available; fixed versions by package: exiftool-vendored 14.3.0. A vendor fix does not mean a deployment is fixed.

## Affected components
- npm exiftool-vendored: affected < 14.3.0; fixed in 14.3.0

## Suggested inspection (read-only)
- `npm ls exiftool-vendored --all`: lists every installed copy and version, including transitive ones. Run in the project root after `npm ci`.

## Supported action
Upgrade each affected component to a fixed version on its release line. For a transitive dependency, upgrade the parent package or add an override or constraint, then regenerate the lockfile. Redeploy every environment that ran an affected version.

## Required regression checks
- Run the test suite and a production build.
- Exercise the features that depend on exiftool-vendored.
- Repeat the inspection and confirm that only fixed versions remain installed.

## Rollback considerations
- Keep the previous lockfile and deployment artifact. Rolling back reinstates the vulnerable version, so apply any documented mitigation while you fix forward.

## Unresolved questions
- Which deployments run an affected version?
- Exploitation status can change. Check again before lowering the priority.
- Mark the work resolved only after the fixed version is verified in production.

## Sources
- Verified: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68 (OSV record GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68 lists affected ranges: npm exiftool-vendored >=0 <14.3.0 (fixed))
- Verified: https://github.com/advisories/GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68 (GitHub-reviewed advisory GHSA-4whq-r978-2x68 lists affected ranges: npm exiftool-vendored >=0 <14.3.0)

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