Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This flaw affects Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application on macOS version 5.3 and earlier. A local normal user could abuse it to gain administrator-level control over directories, creating a serious endpoint risk where Creative Cloud is installed.
Executive priority
Treat this as a high-priority endpoint remediation item, especially for managed macOS fleets. It is not described as remotely exploitable, but successful abuse could turn a normal local account into administrator-level control over sensitive directories.
Technical view
CVE-2021-28547 is a local privilege escalation in Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application for macOS, associated with CWE-20. The CVSS 3.0 score is 7.8, with local access, low complexity, low privileges required, no user interaction, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to macOS systems running Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application version 5.3 or earlier. The attacker must already have local low-privileged access, so internet-facing exposure is not indicated by the supplied sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. The vulnerability is most relevant after an attacker or insider has local access and wants to escalate privileges on a macOS endpoint.
Researcher notes
The provided details describe deletion of the OOBE directory leading to permissions over directories under administrator authority. The supplied data does not include exploit maturity, proof-of-concept status, or a specific fixed version, so conclusions should stay tied to Adobe APSB21-18 and CVE metadata.
Mitigation direction
- Review Adobe APSB21-18 for vendor remediation guidance and corrected versions.
- Update affected macOS Creative Cloud Desktop installations beyond version 5.3 or earlier.
- Prioritize shared Macs, developer workstations, and endpoints used by privileged staff.
- Remove Creative Cloud from systems where it is not operationally required.
- Monitor Adobe security advisories for any later clarifications or superseding fixes.
Validation and detection
- Inventory macOS endpoints with Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application installed.
- Confirm whether installed versions are 5.3 or earlier.
- Compare installed versions against Adobe APSB21-18 remediation guidance.
- Check endpoint management records for successful update deployment.
- Review local security logs for suspicious privilege or permission changes.
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-20: 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 lookupPrivilege behavior lookup
The CVE wording references privilege impact, so privilege escalation and authorization behavior review may help. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-28547 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:L/UI:N/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:L/UI:N/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:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/creative-cloud/apsb21-18.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.