Code execution via crafted-file out-of-bounds write
Published Feb 11, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
Out-of-bounds write in Adobe Illustrator 2021 25.1 and earlier allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted file. The file parser writes beyond an allocated memory boundary while processing attacker-controlled file data; Adobe has not disclosed the affected format or code path. Exploitation requires the current user to open the malicious file, and resulting code runs with that user's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds write in Adobe Illustrator 2021 25.1 and earlier allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a crafted file. The file parser writes beyond an allocated memory boundary while processing attacker-controlled file data; Adobe has not disclosed the affected format or code path. Exploitation requires the current user to open the malicious file, and resulting code runs with that user's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-21053
- Published
- Feb 11, 2021
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Adobe
- Product
- Illustrator
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1203, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Feb 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=25.1
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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