CVE-2022-41751 is a high-severity command injection vulnerability found in the Jhead utility version 3.06.0.1. Jhead is a command-line tool used primarily for manipulating JPEG image metadata, such as EXIF headers. The vulnerability arises when an attacker crafts a JPEG file with a malicious filename containing arbitrary operating system commands. When the vulnerable Jhead version processes this file using the 'regeneration -rgt50' option, it executes the embedded commands on the host system. This occurs because the filename is not properly sanitized before being passed to system-level command execution functions, leading to command injection (CWE-78). The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector requiring local access (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is needed (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the vulnerability can lead to full compromise of the affected system. No official patches or vendor information are provided, and no known exploits are reported in the wild as of the publication date (October 17, 2022).

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk especially in environments where Jhead is used to batch process JPEG images, such as media companies, digital forensics, photography services, and any enterprise handling large volumes of image files. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or disruption of services. Since the attack requires local access and user interaction (e.g., an operator running Jhead on a maliciously named file), insider threats or social engineering attacks could be vectors. The impact is heightened in organizations that automate image processing workflows without strict filename validation or sandboxing. Confidentiality could be breached by exfiltrating sensitive data, integrity compromised by altering files or system configurations, and availability affected by executing destructive commands. Given the lack of patches, organizations face a window of exposure until mitigations are applied.

Organizations should immediately audit their use of Jhead, particularly version 3.06.0.1, and avoid using the 'regeneration -rgt50' option on untrusted JPEG files. Implement strict filename validation and sanitization to reject or neutralize suspicious characters or command injection patterns before processing. Run Jhead in isolated environments or containers with minimal privileges to limit potential damage. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection to monitor for unauthorized command executions. If possible, replace Jhead with alternative tools that do not exhibit this vulnerability or have active vendor support. Additionally, educate users about the risks of processing files from untrusted sources and enforce policies restricting local execution of such utilities to trusted personnel only. Monitor security advisories for any forthcoming patches or updates.