CVE-2021-36009

Unauthenticated code execution via crafted PDF parsing

Published Aug 20, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Memory corruption in Adobe Illustrator 25.2.3 and earlier allows attackers to execute code by opening a crafted PDF file. The PDF parser performs an out-of-bounds memory access while processing attacker-controlled file data, corrupting process memory. Exploitation requires a victim to open the file, and code runs with the current user's privileges; Adobe lists Windows as affected.

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

Memory corruption in Adobe Illustrator 25.2.3 and earlier allows attackers to execute code by opening a crafted PDF file. The PDF parser performs an out-of-bounds memory access while processing attacker-controlled file data, corrupting process memory. Exploitation requires a victim to open the file, and code runs with the current user's privileges; Adobe lists Windows as affected.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-36009
Published
Aug 20, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Illustrator
Classifications
CWE-788, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Aug 20, 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 <=25.2.3
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Illustratorversion=unspecified <=25.2.3; 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

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.

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No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 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

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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