Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
Adobe Bridge can be compromised if a user opens a maliciously crafted file. Successful exploitation could let an attacker run code as that user, affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The issue is serious, but the provided sources require user interaction and do not show known active exploitation.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority endpoint remediation for teams using Adobe Bridge. It is not described as remotely exploitable without user action, but successful exploitation could execute attacker code under the user account and disrupt sensitive creative workflows.
Technical view
CVE-2021-21093 is a CWE-788 memory corruption flaw in Adobe Bridge SGI file parsing. A specially crafted file can trigger arbitrary code execution in the current user context. Affected versions are Adobe Bridge 10.1.1 and earlier, and 11.0.1 and earlier. CVSS is 7.8 with local attack vector and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on endpoints where Adobe Bridge 10.1.1 or earlier, or 11.0.1 or earlier, is installed and users process files from external sources. Creative, marketing, design, and media workflows may have higher practical exposure because file exchange is routine.
Exploitation context
The provided sources describe unauthenticated exploitation through a specially crafted file, but only after a victim opens it. The CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle, and no cited source here confirms active exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The source bundle gives core vulnerability facts but limited remediation detail beyond the Adobe advisory reference. Avoid assuming exploit availability or fixed versions not shown here. Validation should focus on installed Bridge versions, file-handling workflows, and whether Adobe APSB21-23 guidance has been applied.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Adobe Bridge installations and identify affected versions.
- Review Adobe APSB21-23 and apply vendor-provided Bridge guidance.
- Restrict opening untrusted SGI or asset files until remediated.
- Use endpoint controls to reduce exposure to suspicious downloaded files.
- Prioritize systems used for external file review workflows.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed Adobe Bridge versions across managed endpoints.
- Check whether systems exceed the affected version ranges.
- Review endpoint alerts for suspicious activity after file opens.
- Verify users handling external files received remediation first.
- Document residual exposure where Bridge cannot be updated promptly.
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-788: 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-2021-21093 mapping review
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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/bridge/apsb21-23.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-414/CVE 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.
Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer
Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.