Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Adobe Illustrator 25.0 and earlier can run attacker-controlled code if a user opens a malicious file. The impact is serious because code runs as the current user, but exploitation requires user interaction and is not described as remotely triggerable without opening a file.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority workstation remediation item, especially for creative teams. It is not presented as actively exploited, but successful exploitation could compromise user data and workstation integrity.
Technical view
CVE-2021-21007 is a CWE-427 uncontrolled search path element issue in Adobe Illustrator 25.0 and earlier. CVSS 3.1 is 7.0: local attack vector, high complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Organizations with Adobe Illustrator 25.0 or earlier installed are potentially exposed, especially users who handle design files from external parties. The sources do not indicate server-side or internet-facing exposure.
Exploitation context
The sources state exploitation requires a victim to open a malicious file. The bundle does not identify active exploitation, public exploit maturity, or CISA KEV listing; KEV is false.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on installed Illustrator versions and user file-ingestion workflows. Evidence supports local, user-assisted code execution through search path handling, not unauthenticated network exploitation. Patch specifics beyond Adobe APSB21-02 are not provided in the bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Review Adobe APSB21-02 and apply the Illustrator update Adobe recommends.
- Inventory endpoints for Adobe Illustrator 25.0 and earlier.
- Prioritize users who receive external Illustrator or design files.
- Limit opening untrusted files until affected installations are updated.
- Monitor Adobe guidance for any additional remediation details.
Validation and detection
- Confirm endpoint inventory no longer reports Illustrator 25.0 or earlier.
- Check software management records for Adobe Illustrator update deployment.
- Verify high-risk creative workstations are included in remediation scope.
- Confirm user guidance covers malicious file handling risk.
- Track any exceptions with owner, deadline, and compensating controls.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-427: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-21007 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H15.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
7HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/illustrator/apsb21-02.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_CONFIRM
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Uncontrolled Search Path Element
Uncontrolled Search Path Element represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.