---
id: CVE-2021-22205
title: >-
  An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting
  from 11.9
summary: >-
  An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting
  from 11.9. GitLab was not properly validating image files that were passed to
  a file parser which resulted in a remote command execution.
severity: critical
cvss: 10
cvssVector: 'CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H'
cwe:
  - CWE-94
  - CWE-94
vendor: gitlab
product: gitlab
affected:
  - 'gitlab >= 11.9.0, < 13.8.8'
  - 'gitlab >= 13.9.0, < 13.9.6'
  - 'gitlab >= 13.10.0, < 13.10.3'
patched:
  - gitlab 13.10.3
published: '2021-04-23'
updated: '2026-08-01'
source: NVD
sourceUrl: 'https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-22205'
references:
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164768/GitLab-Unauthenticated-Remote-ExifTool-Command-Injection.html
    label: cve@gitlab.com
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164994/GitLab-13.10.2-Remote-Code-Execution.html
    label: cve@gitlab.com
  - url: 'https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-22205.json'
    label: cve@gitlab.com
  - url: 'https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/327121'
    label: cve@gitlab.com
  - url: 'https://hackerone.com/reports/1154542'
    label: cve@gitlab.com
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164768/GitLab-Unauthenticated-Remote-ExifTool-Command-Injection.html
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      http://packetstormsecurity.com/files/164994/GitLab-13.10.2-Remote-Code-Execution.html
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/cves/-/blob/master/2021/CVE-2021-22205.json'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://gitlab.com/gitlab-org/gitlab/-/issues/327121'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: 'https://hackerone.com/reports/1154542'
    label: af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108
  - url: >-
      https://www.cisa.gov/known-exploited-vulnerabilities-catalog?field_cve=CVE-2021-22205
    label: 134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0
tags:
  - nvd
  - kev
  - in-the-wild
  - exploit-available
epss: 0.99731
epssPercentile: 0.99952
kev: true
kevDateAdded: '2021-11-03'
kevDueDate: '2021-11-17'
kevRansomware: true
exploited: true
exploitAvailable: true
ingestedAt: '2026-08-01T06:11:30.966Z'
exploits:
  exploitdb: true
  github: 26
  githubRepos:
    - 'https://github.com/mr-r3bot/Gitlab-CVE-2021-22205'
    - 'https://github.com/XTeam-Wing/CVE-2021-22205'
    - 'https://github.com/r0eXpeR/CVE-2021-22205'
  metasploit:
    - exploit/multi/http/gitlab_exif_rce
  nuclei:
    - CVE-2021-22205
  checkedAt: '2026-09-25T08:20:38.306Z'
---

## Overview

An issue has been discovered in GitLab CE/EE affecting all versions starting from 11.9. GitLab was not properly validating image files that were passed to a file parser which resulted in a remote command execution.

## Affected

- `gitlab >= 11.9.0, < 13.8.8`
- `gitlab >= 13.9.0, < 13.9.6`
- `gitlab >= 13.10.0, < 13.10.3`

## Remediation

Upgrade past the affected range:

- `gitlab 13.10.3`