GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 — exiftool_vendored
HIGHGHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 is a high-severity (CVSS 7.8) remote code execution vulnerability in exiftool_vendored. A fix is available for exiftool_vendored — see the affected versions and patch details below.
ExifTool vulnerable to arbitrary code execution
Real-World Exposure
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 | 12.25.0bundle update exiftool_vendored --conservative |
Detection & mitigation playbook
Open-source dependencyDetect
Scan your dependency tree (package-lock.json, pnpm-lock.yaml, requirements.txt, go.sum, etc.) for exiftool_vendored, including transitive dependencies — a direct dependency you never call can still pull in a vulnerable version.
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 Security's impact-aware SCA analyses which vulnerable code paths your application actually calls, so a match like GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 can be triaged on real exposure rather than presence alone.
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 Security finds GHSA-q95h-cqrv-8jv5 across RubyGems dependencies, including transitive ones, and its impact-aware SCA ranks findings by whether your code actually calls the vulnerable path.