CVE-2021-42732

Arbitrary code execution via out-of-bounds memory access

Published Jun 15, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Out-of-bounds memory access in Adobe InDesign 16.4 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a crafted document. Adobe identifies access beyond the end of a buffer but has not disclosed the affected parser, file format, or incorrect operation on document data. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted document, and resulting code runs with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.98%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Out-of-bounds memory access in Adobe InDesign 16.4 and earlier allows local users to execute arbitrary code via a crafted document. Adobe identifies access beyond the end of a buffer but has not disclosed the affected parser, file format, or incorrect operation on document data. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted document, and resulting code runs with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42732
Published
Jun 15, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
InDesign
Classifications
CWE-788, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jun 15, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 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 <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · InDesignversion=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
6.8NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P

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
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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