CVE-2021-45055

Remote code execution via crafted TIF parsing

Published Jan 13, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Out-of-bounds read in Adobe InCopy 16.4 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted TIF file opened by a victim. The TIF parser reads past the end of an allocated memory structure when processing malicious file data, enabling code execution in the current user's context. Exploitation requires the victim to open the file, so impact is bounded by user interaction and the privileges of that account.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.43%
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 read in Adobe InCopy 16.4 and earlier allows attackers to execute code via a crafted TIF file opened by a victim. The TIF parser reads past the end of an allocated memory structure when processing malicious file data, enabling code execution in the current user's context. Exploitation requires the victim to open the file, so impact is bounded by user interaction and the privileges of that account.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45055
Published
Jan 13, 2022
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
InCopy
Classifications
CWE-125, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 13, 2022CVE 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 <=16.4
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · InCopyversion=unspecified <=16.4; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.0/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-125Out-of-bounds Read
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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