Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious file can trigger a memory corruption flaw in Adobe Bridge and run code as the signed-in user. The attacker does not need credentials, but must convince someone to open the file. This is most relevant to creative or marketing workstations that handle externally supplied assets.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for creative workstations and asset-handling teams. The issue is not remote wormable, but a single opened malicious file could compromise a user workstation and expose sensitive project or customer data.
Technical view
CVE-2021-21095 is a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write in Adobe Bridge TTF font parsing/crafted file handling. Affected versions include Bridge 10.1.1 and earlier and 11.0.1 and earlier. CVSS is 7.8, with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to endpoints with affected Adobe Bridge versions installed. Higher-risk environments include teams that receive third-party design assets, font files, archives, or media packages and open them in Bridge.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires user interaction: the victim must open a malicious crafted file. Successful exploitation could allow arbitrary code execution as the current user.
Researcher notes
The available data identifies affected version ranges, CWE-787, user interaction, and arbitrary code execution impact. It does not provide exploit indicators, active exploitation confirmation, or detailed patch-version data in the supplied bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Update Adobe Bridge according to Adobe APSB21-23 vendor guidance.
- Remove vulnerable Bridge versions where the software is not required.
- Restrict opening untrusted design assets or font files in Bridge.
- Use endpoint controls to reduce impact of user-level code execution.
- Check Adobe guidance if fixed-version details are needed.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for Adobe Bridge installations and versions.
- Flag Bridge 10.1.1 and earlier, and 11.0.1 and earlier.
- Confirm remediation status against Adobe APSB21-23.
- Review exposure among teams receiving external creative assets.
- Look for suspicious file-open events, but avoid assuming exploitation.
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-787: 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-2021-21095 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-21-418/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.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.