CVE-2021-21048

Code execution via improper DCM data validation

Published Feb 11, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop 21.2.4 and earlier and 22.1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted DCM file. The DCM parser fails to validate user-supplied data properly before processing it, resulting in memory corruption. Exploitation requires the victim to open the malicious file and runs attacker-controlled code with the current user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop 21.2.4 and earlier and 22.1.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted DCM file. The DCM parser fails to validate user-supplied data properly before processing it, resulting in memory corruption. Exploitation requires the victim to open the malicious file and runs attacker-controlled code with the current user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21048
Published
Feb 11, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Photoshop
Classifications
CWE-787, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 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=unspecified <=21.2.4
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=22.1.1
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Photoshopversion=unspecified <=21.2.4; version=unspecified <=22.1.1; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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-787Out-of-bounds Write
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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