CVE-2025-21163

Code execution via malicious-file stack overflow

Published Feb 11, 2025 · Updated Feb 26, 2026

Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Illustrator 29.1 and 28.7.3 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious file. Adobe has not disclosed the affected file format, parser, or the unchecked operation that overwrites a stack buffer. A victim must open the crafted file, after which code runs with the victim's current-user privileges on Windows or macOS.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability0.37%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Illustrator 29.1 and 28.7.3 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious file. Adobe has not disclosed the affected file format, parser, or the unchecked operation that overwrites a stack buffer. A victim must open the crafted file, after which code runs with the victim's current-user privileges on Windows or macOS.

The record

CVE
CVE-2025-21163
Published
Feb 11, 2025
Updated
Feb 26, 2026
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Illustrator
Classifications
CWE-121, CWE-787, T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 11, 2025CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 26, 2026Record 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=0 <=28.7.3

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Illustratorversion=0 <=28.7.3

Published CVSS scores

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 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-121Stack-based Buffer Overflow
CWE-787Out-of-bounds Write
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002Malicious 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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