CVE-2021-28278

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the...

7.8 HighFix available

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Attack profile

How easy it is to exploit

Attack vector: Local
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Required

What an attacker can affect

Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Exploit likelihood

0.87%Unchanged since Mar 24, 2022

What each source reports

NVD Score used 7.8

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Record: CVE-2021-28278
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CVSS 2.0: 6.8 MediumAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
Weakness: CWE-787
Updated: 2026-11-02

CVE List No score

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Record: CVE-2021-28278
Updated: 2026-11-02

EUVDEUVD-2021-14967 No score

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Record: EUVD-2021-14967
Updated: 2026-11-03

GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-cf7f-2rx6-pw73 7.8

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the...

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Record: GHSA-cf7f-2rx6-pw73
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Weakness: CWE-787
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSV 7.8

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Record: CVE-2021-28278
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVDEBIAN-CVE-2021-28278 7.8

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Record: DEBIAN-CVE-2021-28278
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUBUNTU-CVE-2021-28278 7.8

A Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability exists in jhead 3.04 and 3.05 via the RemoveSectionType function in jpgfile.c.

Record: UBUNTU-CVE-2021-28278
CVSS 3.1: 7.8 HighCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Updated: 2026-11-02

OSVUSN-6098-1 No score

Jhead vulnerabilities

It was discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images while processing the JFIF markers. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. This issue only affected Ubuntu 14.04 LTS, Ubuntu 16.04 LTS, and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2019-19035)

It was discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images while processing longitude tags. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2019-1010301)

It was discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images while processing IPTC data. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. This issue only affected Ubuntu 16.04 LTS and Ubuntu 18.04 LTS. (CVE-2019-1010302)

Binbin Li discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images while processing the DQT data. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. (CVE-2020-6624)

Binbin Li discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images while processing longitude data. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. (CVE-2020-6625)

Feng Zhao Yang discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images while reading JPEG sections. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. (CVE-2020-26208)

It was discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images while processing Canon images. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. (CVE-2021-28276)

It was discovered that Jhead did not properly handle certain crafted images when removing a certain type of sections. An attacker could cause Jhead to crash. (CVE-2021-28278)

Record: USN-6098-1
Updated: 2026-11-02

Affected products

jhead project jhead

Affected packages

Affected packages
Package	Affected	Fixed
`jhead` Debian:12	before 1:3.06.0.1-2	1:3.06.0.1-2
`jhead` Debian:13	before 1:3.06.0.1-2	1:3.06.0.1-2
`jhead` Debian:14	before 1:3.06.0.1-2	1:3.06.0.1-2
`jhead` Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS	before 1:2.97-1+deb8u2ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 1:2.97-11:2.97-1+deb8u1build0.14.04.11:2.97-1+deb8u2build0.14.04.1~esm1	1:2.97-1+deb8u2ubuntu0.1~esm1
`jhead` Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS	before 1:3.00-4+deb9u1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 1:3.00-11:3.00-21:3.00-31:3.00-4+deb9u1build0.16.04.1	1:3.00-4+deb9u1ubuntu0.1~esm1
`jhead` Ubuntu:18.04:LTS	before 1:3.00-8~ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 1:3.00-41:3.00-51:3.00-61:3.00-8~build0.18.04.1	1:3.00-8~ubuntu0.1
`jhead` Ubuntu:20.04:LTS	before 1:3.04-1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 1:3.03-31:3.04-1	1:3.04-1ubuntu0.1
`jhead` Ubuntu:Pro:14.04:LTS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs	before 1:2.97-1+deb8u2ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 1:2.97-11:2.97-1+deb8u1build0.14.04.11:2.97-1+deb8u2build0.14.04.1~esm1	1:2.97-1+deb8u2ubuntu0.1~esm1
`jhead` Ubuntu:Pro:16.04:LTS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs	before 1:3.00-4+deb9u1ubuntu0.1~esm1, plus listed versions 1:3.00-11:3.00-21:3.00-31:3.00-4+deb9u1build0.16.04.1	1:3.00-4+deb9u1ubuntu0.1~esm1
`jhead` Ubuntu:18.04:LTS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs	before 1:3.00-8~ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 1:3.00-41:3.00-51:3.00-61:3.00-8~build0.18.04.1	1:3.00-8~ubuntu0.1
`jhead` Ubuntu:20.04:LTS From an advisory covering 8 CVEs	before 1:3.04-1ubuntu0.1, plus listed versions 1:3.03-31:3.04-1	1:3.04-1ubuntu0.1

History

History
Recorded	Changed	Sources
Nov 6, 2026	affected, facts
Nov 3, 2026	aliases	EUVD
Nov 2, 2026	first indexed	CVE List, GitHub Advisories, NVD, OSV

Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.

In short

CVE-2021-28278 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Jhead Project Jhead, published March 23, 2022. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 0.87%, the 58th percentile. Fixed in jhead 1:3.06.0.1-2.

References

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