CVE-2021-28594

Code execution via uncontrolled installer search path

Published Aug 24, 2021 · Updated Sep 17, 2024

Uncontrolled search-path handling in Adobe Prelude's Creative Cloud installer 2.4 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code. The installer searches an uncontrolled path while processing a malicious file, but Adobe has not disclosed the searched object, path order, or loading function. Exploitation requires a victim to open the file and runs code with that victim's privileges on Windows or macOS.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.69%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Uncontrolled search-path handling in Adobe Prelude's Creative Cloud installer 2.4 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code. The installer searches an uncontrolled path while processing a malicious file, but Adobe has not disclosed the searched object, path order, or loading function. Exploitation requires a victim to open the file and runs code with that victim's privileges on Windows or macOS.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-28594
Published
Aug 24, 2021
Updated
Sep 17, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Prelude
Classifications
CWE-427, T1574.008
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 24, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 17, 2024Record 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 <=2.4
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Preludeversion=unspecified <=2.4; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8AdobeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NVDAV: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-427Uncontrolled Search Path Element
T1574.008Path Interception by Search Order Hijacking

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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