Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious JSX file opened in Adobe Photoshop could trigger memory corruption and allow code to run as the current user. The main risk is compromise of designer or marketing workstations through social engineering or unsafe file handling, not unauthenticated remote exploitation over a network.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for creative, marketing, and contractor-facing workstations. The vulnerability has high impact if triggered, but it requires user action and no active exploitation evidence is provided, so treat it as important endpoint hardening rather than an emergency internet-facing exposure.
Technical view
CVE-2021-28549 is a CWE-120 buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop's parsing of specially crafted JSX files. Affected versions are Photoshop 21.2.6 and earlier and 22.3 and earlier. CVSS 3.0 is 7.8 with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to endpoints with affected Photoshop versions installed, especially users who open external design assets or JSX automation files. Servers are unlikely to be directly exposed based on the provided local-vector CVSS and user-interaction requirement.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires convincing a user to open a malicious file, so phishing, shared asset repositories, or third-party design workflows are plausible delivery paths.
Researcher notes
Focus validation on installed Photoshop versions and user workflows that ingest external JSX files. The bundle identifies arbitrary code execution in the current user context but does not provide exploit maturity, patch version details, or operational indicators beyond Adobe's advisory reference.
Mitigation direction
- Check Adobe APSB21-28 for the vendor-approved fixed versions and update guidance.
- Update affected Photoshop installations through supported Adobe channels.
- Block or quarantine unsolicited JSX files from email and collaboration platforms.
- Limit Photoshop use to standard user accounts where operationally feasible.
- Educate design teams not to open unexpected Photoshop script files.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for Adobe Photoshop 21.2.6 or earlier and 22.3 or earlier.
- Review software management tools for Adobe update deployment status.
- Search mail and file-sharing systems for unexpected JSX attachments or downloads.
- Confirm endpoint controls inspect or restrict untrusted script-like design files.
- Verify high-risk creative workstations are not used with administrator 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-120: 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-2021-28549 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/photoshop/apsb21-28.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.
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow')
Buffer Copy without Checking Size of Input ('Classic Buffer Overflow') represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.