# CVE-2021-21006: Heap buffer overflow when handling crafted font file could lead to arbitrary code execution

> Heap buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop allows arbitrary code execution when a user opens a malicious font file.

- **Severity:** High 8.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Jan 2021
- **Updated:** 23 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-v4j4-xc7c-cpxx

## What is CVE-2021-21006?

CVE-2021-21006 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop, published on 13 Jan 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Adobe Photoshop version 22.1 (and earlier) is affected by a heap buffer overflow vulnerability when handling a specially crafted font file. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

Weakness: CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-21006?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Adobe Photoshop.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-21006?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-21006 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-21006 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21006 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## 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-2012-2027](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2027/): Use after free in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2012-2028](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2012-2028/): Memory corruption in n/a (critical 9.3)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-21006 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-21006 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop, published on 13 Jan 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21006 in the wild and no public exploit code.

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-2021-21006/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21006/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-21006
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-21006
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-21006

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21006/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.