CVE-2021-28275 : What You Need to Know

A Denial of Service vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 due to a wild address read in the Get16u function in exif.c, which will cause a segmentation fault via a crafted file.

Understanding CVE-2021-28275

This CVE-2021-28275 vulnerability relates to a Denial of Service issue in jhead version 3.04 and 3.05.

What is CVE-2021-28275?

The CVE-2021-28275 vulnerability is a Denial of Service flaw caused by a wild address read issue in the Get16u function in the exif.c file of jhead versions 3.04 and 3.05.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28275

This vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to trigger a segmentation fault using a specially crafted file, leading to a Denial of Service condition.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28275

This section provides more in-depth technical information about the CVE-2021-28275 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to a wild address read in the Get16u function in the exif.c file, which can be abused to cause a segmentation fault.

Affected Systems and Versions

The affected systems include jhead versions 3.04 and 3.05. All prior versions are also likely to be vulnerable.

Exploitation Mechanism

An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by crafting a malicious file that triggers the wild address read, leading to a segmentation fault and Denial of Service.

Mitigation and Prevention

To protect your systems from CVE-2021-28275, follow these mitigation steps.

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid opening or manipulating untrusted image files with jhead 3.04 and 3.05.
Update to the latest patched version of jhead to eliminate the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software to ensure you have the latest security patches installed.
Implement robust security measures to prevent unauthorized access to systems.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security advisories from jhead and apply patches promptly to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.