ExifTool
Read/write file metadata (EXIF and beyond).
KaliParrotLinuxpassive
pkg: libimage-exiftool-perl
ExifTool reads and edits metadata in images, documents and media — GPS, timestamps, authoring software and more.
Syntax
exiftool {file}
Example
exiftool photo.jpg
Dumps all metadata, often revealing GPS coordinates, camera and edit history.
Options & flags
What each switch does. Toggle them in the builder below to assemble a command.
Command builder
Tick options (and fill any values) to build a ready-to-copy command.
exiftool
Usage examples
exiftool photo.jpg
Dump all metadata.
exiftool -all= photo.jpg
Remove all metadata.
exiftool -GPSPosition photo.jpg
Just the GPS coordinates.
Advantages
- Supports an enormous format range
- Reveals OSINT-rich metadata
- Can scrub metadata too
Disadvantages
- Output can be overwhelming
- Metadata may be stripped/absent
- Editing can corrupt if misused
Tags
#metadata#osint
Official docs: ExifTool ↗
Related commands
Frequently asked questions
What is ExifTool used for?
ExifTool reads and edits metadata in images, documents and media — GPS, timestamps, authoring software and more.
What is an example ExifTool command?
A common example is: exiftool photo.jpg — Dumps all metadata, often revealing GPS coordinates, camera and edit history.
Is ExifTool part of Kali Linux?
Yes. ExifTool ships with Kali Linux (and Parrot OS). If missing, install it with: sudo apt install libimage-exiftool-perl.
What category of security tool is ExifTool?
ExifTool is a Forensics tool with a passive-risk profile when run against a live target.
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