CVE-2022-38434

Code execution via dangling SVG parser object

Published Sep 16, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Use-after-free in Adobe Photoshop 22.5.8 and earlier or 23.4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted SVG file. The SVG parser operates on an object without validating that the object still exists, leaving a dangling reference. The victim must visit a malicious page or open the file, and successful exploitation runs code in the current process and user context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.57%
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 Adobe Photoshop 22.5.8 and earlier or 23.4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted SVG file. The SVG parser operates on an object without validating that the object still exists, leaving a dangling reference. The victim must visit a malicious page or open the file, and successful exploitation runs code in the current process and user context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2022-38434
Published
Sep 16, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Photoshop
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 16, 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 <=22.5.8
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=23.4.2
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Photoshopversion=unspecified <=22.5.8; version=unspecified <=23.4.2; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8Trend Micro Zero Day InitiativeCVSS: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-416Use After Free
T1204.002Malicious 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

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Your stack

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