CVE-2021-21068

Code execution via arbitrary file overwrite

Published Mar 12, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

File handling in Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop 5.3 and earlier allows physically proximate attackers to overwrite arbitrary files. Adobe has not published the affected file-handling locus or how it selects or opens an attacker-influenced overwrite destination. Exploitation requires physical access, high privileges, and user interaction, and Adobe states that the overwrite can lead to code execution in the current user's context.

CVSS severity6.1
Medium
EPSS probability0.62%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

File handling in Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop 5.3 and earlier allows physically proximate attackers to overwrite arbitrary files. Adobe has not published the affected file-handling locus or how it selects or opens an attacker-influenced overwrite destination. Exploitation requires physical access, high privileges, and user interaction, and Adobe states that the overwrite can lead to code execution in the current user's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21068
Published
Mar 12, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop
Classifications
CWE-379
Attack vector
physical
Privileges
admin

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 12, 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 <=5.3
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorphysical
Required privilegesadmin

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Creative Cloud Desktopversion=unspecified <=5.3; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

6.1NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.1Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.0/AV:P/AC:L/PR:H/UI:R/S:U/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)
Vectorphysical
Privilegesadmin
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-379Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Insecure Permissions

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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