# CVE-2012-2027: Use after free in n/a

> Remote attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a crafted TIFF file in Adobe Photoshop.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.3 (`AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 May 2012
- **Updated:** 6 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-5h45-vp7g-6r9g

## What is CVE-2012-2027?

CVE-2012-2027 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop, published on 9 May 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Use-after-free vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop CS5 12.x before 12.0.5 and CS5.1 12.1.x before 12.1.1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted TIFF (aka .TIF) file.

Weakness: CWE-399

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2012-2027?

It affects 3 products.


Products: Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Photoshop Cs4, Adobe Photoshop Cs5.5.

## How do I fix CVE-2012-2027?

No fix has been published for CVE-2012-2027 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2012-2027 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-2027 exists.

Public exploit code:

- Adobe Photoshop 12.1 - '.tiff' Parsing Use-After-Free (exploitdb)

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Photoshop

- [CVE-2011-2164](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2011-2164/): Multiple unspecified vulnerabilities in Adobe Photoshop before 12.0.4 have unknown impact and attack vectors. (critical 10.0)
- [CVE-2017-11303](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11303/): Memory corruption in Adobe Photoshop 18.1.1 (2017.1.1) and earlier versions (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-11304](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11304/): Use after free in Adobe Photoshop 18.1.1 (2017.1.1) and earlier versions (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2012-2028](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2028/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2010-3127](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2010-3127/): Path traversal in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2012-2027 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2012-2027 is a critical use after free vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop, published on 9 May 2012. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2012-2027 exists.

Affected product: Adobe Photoshop. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2027/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2027/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2012-2027
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2012-2027
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2012-2027

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2027/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.