CVE-2023-21574

Code execution via malformed embedded font data

Published Feb 17, 2023 · Updated Aug 2, 2024

Improper input validation in Adobe Photoshop 23.5.3 and earlier and 24.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via a malicious file. The embedded-font parser fails to validate user-supplied font data before processing it, producing memory corruption within the Photoshop process. Exploitation requires a user to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code runs with the current user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.33%
Next 30 days · Sep 17, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Improper input validation in Adobe Photoshop 23.5.3 and earlier and 24.1 and earlier allows remote attackers to execute code via a malicious file. The embedded-font parser fails to validate user-supplied font data before processing it, producing memory corruption within the Photoshop process. Exploitation requires a user to visit a malicious page or open a malicious file, and successful code runs with the current user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21574
Published
Feb 17, 2023
Updated
Aug 2, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Photoshop
Classifications
CWE-20, T1204.002, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 17, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 2, 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 <=23.5.3
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=24.1
  3. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Photoshopversion=unspecified <=23.5.3; version=unspecified <=24.1; version=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

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-20Improper Input Validation
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious 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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