# CVE-2021-42727: Adobe Bridge Buffer Overflow Arbitrary code execution

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a crafted file in Adobe Bridge.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/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:** 22 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-38rp-v36c-g6c3

## What is CVE-2021-42727?

CVE-2021-42727 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Bridge, published on 22 Nov 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 Bridge 11.1.1 (and earlier) is affected by a stack overflow vulnerability due to insecure handling of a crafted file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction in that a victim must open a crafted file in Bridge.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-42727?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Adobe Robohelp Server.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-42727?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-42727 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-42727 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-42727 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Bridge

- [CVE-2009-3068](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2009-3068/): File upload in n/a (critical 9.3)
- [CVE-2022-30670](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2022-30670/): Escalate Privileges to Server Admin - Robohelp Server (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-28588](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-28588/): Adobe RoboHelp Server folderId Directory Traversal Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2023-22272](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22272/): ZDI-CAN-21309: Adobe RoboHelp Server resolveDistinguishedName LDAP Injection Information Disclosure Vulnerability (high 7.5)
- [CVE-2023-22274](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-22274/): XML external entity in RoboHelp (high 7.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-42727 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-42727 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Bridge, published on 22 Nov 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-2021-42727 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Adobe Bridge. 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-2021-42727/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42727/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-42727
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-42727
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-42727

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-42727/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.