CVE-2021-43013

Arbitrary code execution via malicious file parsing

Published Nov 16, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Memory corruption in Adobe Media Encoder 15.4.1 and earlier allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malicious file. The media-file parser accesses memory beyond a buffer while processing crafted input, corrupting process memory. Exploitation requires a victim to open the file, and execution occurs with that user’s privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.02%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Adobe Media Encoder 15.4.1 and earlier allows unauthenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code via a malicious file. The media-file parser accesses memory beyond a buffer while processing crafted input, corrupting process memory. Exploitation requires a victim to open the file, and execution occurs with that user’s privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-43013
Published
Nov 16, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Media Encoder
Classifications
CWE-788, CWE-119, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 16, 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 <=15.4.1
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Media Encoderversion=unspecified <=15.4.1; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

9.3National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS: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
CWE-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
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

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Your stack

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