CVE-2021-21048 Adobe Photoshop Buffer Overflow Vulnerability Could Lead To Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

High 7.8 Published 11 Feb 2021 Updated 23 Apr 2025

An attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution by tricking a user into opening a malicious file in Adobe Photoshop.

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: None listed

What is CVE-2021-21048?

CVE-2021-21048 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop, published on 11 Feb 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 versions 21.2.4 (and earlier) and 22.1.1 (and earlier) are affected by a Memory Corruption vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file

Weakness: CWE-787

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-21048?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Adobe Photoshop.

How do I fix CVE-2021-21048?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-21048 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2021-21048 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-21048 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Adobe Photoshop vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-49mw-w922-p7q2.