CVE-2021-21082

Current-user code execution via crafted file parsing

Published Mar 12, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop 21.2.5 and earlier and 22.2 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted file. The file parser accesses memory beyond the end of a buffer while processing attacker-controlled file data, corrupting process memory. Execution requires a victim to open the file and runs with the victim's current-user privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability4.48%
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 21.2.5 and earlier and 22.2 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted file. The file parser accesses memory beyond the end of a buffer while processing attacker-controlled file data, corrupting process memory. Execution requires a victim to open the file and runs with the victim's current-user privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-21082
Published
Mar 12, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Photoshop
Classifications
CWE-788, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

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 <=21.2.5
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=22.2
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Photoshopversion=unspecified <=21.2.5; version=unspecified <=22.2; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NISTAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NISTCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-788Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

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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