CVE-2021-21006

Arbitrary code execution via crafted font file

Published Jan 13, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop 22.1 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted font file. Adobe identifies the locus only as font-file handling and does not disclose which operation writes beyond the heap buffer. Exploitation requires a victim to open the malicious file; successful code runs in the context of the current user on Windows or macOS.

CVSS severity8.6
High
EPSS probability5.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop 22.1 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted font file. Adobe identifies the locus only as font-file handling and does not disclose which operation writes beyond the heap buffer. Exploitation requires a victim to open the malicious file; successful code runs in the context of the current user on Windows or macOS.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21006
Published
Jan 13, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Photoshop
Classifications
CWE-122, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=22.1 and earlier

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Photoshopversion=22.1 and earlier

Published CVSS scores

6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
8.6Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-122Heap-based Buffer Overflow
T1204.002Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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