Possible ExifTool CVE-2026-3102 Command Injection via Child Process Spawn (via process_creation)

ATT&CK techniques

Execution

Recon
Resource Dev
Initial Access
Execution
- T1059.004Unix Shell
- T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
Persistence
Priv Esc
Defense Evasion
Cred Access
Discovery
Lateral Movement
Collection
C2
Exfiltration
Impact

What it detects

This rule detects exiftool spawning setfile or a shell interpreter as a child process, the command injection sink exploited in CVE-2026-3102 when a crafted image reaches the SetMacOSTags system call. The injected command runs attacker controlled code on macOS during metadata processing. Detecting exiftool as the parent of these processes surfaces exploitation of the vulnerability.

Reporting behind it

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Possible ExifTool CVE-2026-3102 Command Injection via Child Process Spawn (via process_creation)

Pivot detection · T1059.004 · 9 related

Detection content is published as a reviewed draft. Tune thresholds and exclusions against your own telemetry before enabling this rule for alerting.

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