CVE-2021-40709

Code execution via crafted SVG file parsing

Published Sep 27, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop 21.2.11 and earlier and 22.5 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted SVG file. Photoshop's SVG parser overruns a memory buffer while processing attacker-controlled file data; Adobe has not disclosed the affected function or malformed SVG element. A victim must open the file, after which code runs with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability4.61%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop 21.2.11 and earlier and 22.5 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted SVG file. Photoshop's SVG parser overruns a memory buffer while processing attacker-controlled file data; Adobe has not disclosed the affected function or malformed SVG element. A victim must open the file, after which code runs with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40709
Published
Sep 27, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Photoshop
Classifications
CWE-120, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 27, 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

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=21.2.11
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=22.5
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Photoshopversion=unspecified <=21.2.11; version=unspecified <=22.5; 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.

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-120Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo