Description

A critical vulnerability identified in the widely used ExifTool utility has exposed macOS systems to remote command execution attacks through malicious image metadata. Tracked as CVE 2026 3102, the flaw affects ExifTool version 13.49 and earlier, allowing attackers to embed harmful shell commands inside metadata fields such as DateTimeOriginal. When specially crafted image files are processed in vulnerable workflows, the hidden payload can execute with the privileges of the user running the tool. Security researchers from Kaspersky discovered the issue in February 2026, highlighting how seemingly harmless media files can become a serious attack vector in automated processing environments. The vulnerability occurs because ExifTool improperly sanitizes metadata values related to file creation dates on macOS systems. Specifically, metadata associated with FileCreateDate or MDItemFSCreationDate can reach a system function without proper filtering when the n flag is used. This flag processes raw metadata values and bypasses ExifTool normal validation mechanisms. Attackers can exploit this behavior by injecting malicious commands into metadata fields and later triggering execution through the tagsFromFile feature. Since the malicious content is hidden inside metadata rather than the visible file itself, traditional security tools may fail to detect the threat. The impact of this vulnerability is significant for organizations relying on automated image processing pipelines, newsroom systems, or digital asset management platforms. Successful exploitation may lead to malware installation, unauthorized data access, lateral movement, or full system compromise. ExifTool developers addressed the issue in version 13.50 by redesigning command execution methods to avoid unsafe string based system calls. Users and organizations are strongly advised to upgrade immediately, audit embedded versions within third party applications, and process untrusted media files in isolated environments to minimize exposure.