GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5
HIGHExifTool vulnerable to arbitrary code execution
Blast Radius
exiftool_vendoredReal-time download stats are indexed for npm and PyPI packages. This vulnerability affects RubyGems packages — download data is not available via public APIs for these ecosystems.
Description
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.rb, which vendors ExifTool, includes this patch in v12.25.0.
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.rb
Affected Packages
| Ecosystem | Package | Vulnerable range | Fix |
|---|---|---|---|
| 💎RubyGems | exiftool_vendored | all versions | 12.25.0 |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for exiftool_vendored. O3's reachability analysis confirms whether the vulnerable code path is actually invoked in your application, so you act on real exposure instead of every transitive match.
Fix
Update exiftool_vendored to 12.25.0 or later, then make sure no transitive (indirect) dependency still pins the vulnerable range — O3 confirms GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 is resolved across your whole dependency graph.
Workarounds
If you can't upgrade right away: gate or disable the affected feature, validate untrusted input at the boundary, and avoid passing attacker-controlled data into the vulnerable path. O3's runtime protection blocks exploitation in production as an interim safeguard until the upgrade lands.
How O3 protects you
O3 pinpoints whether GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 is reachable in your code and exactly where to fix it, then blocks exploitation in production at runtime until the patched version is deployed.
Tailored to GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5. Runtime protection reduces exposure until a permanent patch is applied and verified — it complements patching, it doesn't replace it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 in your dependencies?
O3 detects GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 across RubyGems dependencies and uses function-level reachability to confirm whether the vulnerable code path is actually reachable — not just present. No false positives.