ExifTool 8.32 allows local users to gain privileges by creating a…
Priority LOW 37CWE-427Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-427.
Summary
ExifTool 8.32 allows local users to gain privileges by creating a %TEMP%\par-%username%\cache-exiftool-8.32 folder with a victim's username, and then copying a Trojan horse ws32_32.dll file into this new folder, aka DLL Hijacking. NOTE: 8.32 is an obsolete version from 2010 (9.x was released starting in 2012, and 10.x was released starting in 2015).
Why it matters now
EPSS 0.01378 72nd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Public exploit Yes 2 exploit referencesTagged by NVD
Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet
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 · 1
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:exiftool_project:exiftool:8.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 8.32 | Vulnerable | Exiftool Project |
- cpe:2.3:a:exiftool_project:exiftool:8.32:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 8.32 Vulnerable ·Exiftool Project
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2018-20211
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-cj4c-xvfc-fw73
References
More Exiftool Project Exiftool vulnerabilities
- TI-2021-05190 Code injection in ExifTool KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2026-02679 exiftool PNG File MacOS.pm SetMacOSTags os command injection CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 5.3
- TI-2022-07911 lib/Image/ExifTool.pm in ExifTool before 12.38 mishandles a $file =~ /\|$/ check, leading to command injection. CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2018-20211 · CVE Program
- CVE-2018-20211 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-cj4c-xvfc-fw73 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences