CVE-2021-45059

Memory disclosure via JPEG2000 use-after-free

Published Jan 13, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Use-after-free in JPEG2000 processing in Adobe InDesign 16.4 and earlier allows attackers to disclose sensitive memory via a crafted file. The JPEG2000 parser accesses memory after its associated object has been freed; Adobe has not published a more specific function or code path. Exploitation requires a victim to open the malicious file, and the bounded consequence is memory disclosure that can weaken ASLR rather than code execution.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability1.46%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in JPEG2000 processing in Adobe InDesign 16.4 and earlier allows attackers to disclose sensitive memory via a crafted file. The JPEG2000 parser accesses memory after its associated object has been freed; Adobe has not published a more specific function or code path. Exploitation requires a victim to open the malicious file, and the bounded consequence is memory disclosure that can weaken ASLR rather than code execution.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-45059
Published
Jan 13, 2022
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
InDesign
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
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 · InDesignversion=unspecified <=16.4; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

3.3Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
4.0Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
4.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:N/A:N

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-416Use After Free
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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