Off-by-one error in the exif_convert_utf16_to_utf8 function in exif-entry.c in the EXIF…
Priority MEDIUM 41CWE-189Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- — Not recorded in CVSS 2.0
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- Partial · Partial · Partial
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 2.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA and Red Hat. Impact type from CWE-189 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Off-by-one error in the exif_convert_utf16_to_utf8 function in exif-entry.c in the EXIF Tag Parsing Library (aka libexif) before 0.6.21 allows remote attackers to cause a denial of service or possibly execute arbitrary code via crafted EXIF tags in an image.
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.05057 92nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Red Hat: 1 advisory
SSVC decision points
Not available: CISA has not published SSVC decision points for this record.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| — | — | all versions | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- — Vendor— Affected all versions Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 6
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 0.6.20 | Vulnerable | libexif project |
| cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.6.14 | Vulnerable | libexif project |
| cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.6.15 | Vulnerable | libexif project |
| cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.6.16 | Vulnerable | libexif project |
| cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.6.18 | Vulnerable | libexif project |
| cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 0.6.19 | Vulnerable | libexif project |
- cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 0.6.20 Vulnerable ·libexif project
- cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.14:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.6.14 Vulnerable ·libexif project
- cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.15:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.6.15 Vulnerable ·libexif project
- cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.16:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.6.16 Vulnerable ·libexif project
- cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.18:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.6.18 Vulnerable ·libexif project
- cpe:2.3:a:libexif_project:libexif:0.6.19:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 0.6.19 Vulnerable ·libexif project
Remediation
Red Hat 1 advisory
- RHSA-2012:1255 Released 2012-09-11 · Red Hat rating Moderatelibexif security update
- RHEL Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) libexif-0.6.21-1.el5_8, libexif-devel-0.6.21-1.el5_8, libexif-devel-0.6.21-1.el5_8.i386
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) libexif-0.6.21-1.el5_8, libexif-0.6.21-1.el5_8.i386, libexif-0.6.21-1.el5_8.ia64 +5
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) libexif-0.6.21-1.el5_8, libexif-0.6.21-1.el5_8.i386
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) libexif-0.6.21-5.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) libexif-0.6.21-5.el6_3, libexif-devel-0.6.21-5.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) libexif-0.6.21-5.el6_3, libexif-devel-0.6.21-5.el6_3
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) libexif-0.6.21-5.el6_3, libexif-0.6.21-5.el6_3.ppc, libexif-devel-0.6.21-5.el6_3 +1
- Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) libexif-0.6.21-5.el6_3, libexif-devel-0.6.21-5.el6_3
Vendor assessments
Red Hat
Red Hat rating: Moderate. Red Hat's page for this CVE →
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| RHEL Desktop Workstation (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux (v. 5 server) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 5 client) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Desktop Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux HPC Node Optional (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Server (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
| Red Hat Enterprise Linux Workstation (v. 6) | Fixed | RHSA-2012:1255 |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2012-2840
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-7r47-9m3f-8mp5
References
More libexif project Libexif vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-25264 Integer underflow in libexif CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2017-05185 Out-of-bounds read in Red Hat libexif CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2020-10306 An issue was discovered in libexif before 0.6.22. CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.1
- TI-2012-02433 Buffer overflow in the exif_entry_format_value function in exif-entry.c in the EXIF Tag… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2012-02457 Integer underflow in the exif_entry_get_value function in exif-entry.c in the EXIF Tag… CVSS 2.0HIGH 7.5
- TI-2020-00193 Integer overflow in Android CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.5
Sources
- CVE-2012-2840 · CVE Program
- CVE-2012-2840 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-7r47-9m3f-8mp5 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2012-2840 · Red Hat security data · CC BY 4.0
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