Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This Photoshop flaw can let a malicious file run code when opened by a user. The attacker does not need an account, but must persuade someone to open the crafted file. Business urgency is highest where Photoshop handles external customer, partner, or internet-sourced files.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint remediation for teams opening external creative files. It is not cited as actively exploited here, but the impact includes code execution under the user account.
Technical view
CVE-2021-21050 is a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read in Adobe Photoshop file parsing. Affected versions are 21.2.4 and earlier, and 22.1.1 and earlier. Successful exploitation may execute arbitrary code as the current user. CVSS 3.0 is 7.8 with local attack vector and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to endpoints running affected Adobe Photoshop versions, especially creative, marketing, design, and production teams that open files from outside the organization.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires a victim to open a malicious file, so phishing, file sharing, and third-party asset workflows are the main risk contexts.
Researcher notes
Evidence identifies an out-of-bounds read during crafted file parsing, not a network-reachable service flaw. The CVSS vector confirms no privileges required and user interaction required. The provided sources do not include exploit maturity details or exact fixed build numbers.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints with Adobe Photoshop installed.
- Update affected Photoshop installations according to Adobe APSB21-10 guidance.
- Avoid opening Photoshop files from untrusted or unexpected sources.
- Process external design files on least-privileged workstations.
- Apply normal email and file-transfer screening controls.
Validation and detection
- Check installed Photoshop versions against 21.2.4 and 22.1.1 thresholds.
- Confirm remediation status using Adobe update records or endpoint inventory.
- Review which teams receive external Photoshop or image assets.
- Verify users do not run Photoshop with elevated privileges.
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-125: 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-2021-21050 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
- 7.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/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:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/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/photoshop/apsb21-10.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
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.
Out-of-bounds Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.