Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a low-severity Adobe FrameMaker issue. A malicious TIF file could make FrameMaker read memory it should not, potentially exposing sensitive memory data and weakening protections like ASLR. An attacker needs a user to open the malicious file, so exposure is tied to document-handling workflows.
Executive priority
Handle through normal patch management unless FrameMaker users routinely open external files. The business risk is limited, but affected document-production endpoints should be updated to reduce information-disclosure and defense-bypass risk.
Technical view
CVE-2021-39865 is a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read in Adobe FrameMaker TIF parsing affecting 2019 Update 8 and earlier, and 2020 Release Update 2 and earlier. The CVSS 3.0 score is 3.3, with local attack vector, required user interaction, and low confidentiality impact only.
Likely exposure
Likely exposure is limited to endpoints where affected Adobe FrameMaker versions are installed and users open externally supplied or untrusted TIF or FrameMaker-related files.
Exploitation context
The sources do not show active exploitation, and the CVE is not listed as KEV. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious file. The documented impact is information disclosure and potential mitigation bypass support, not direct code execution.
Researcher notes
The key security condition is malicious file parsing in FrameMaker’s TIF handling. Available sources support out-of-bounds read and memory disclosure only. Do not assume broader impact without vendor or advisory evidence.
Mitigation direction
- Apply Adobe guidance from APSB21-74 for affected FrameMaker installations.
- Prioritize systems used to process third-party or unsolicited files.
- Restrict opening untrusted TIF files in affected FrameMaker versions.
- Use endpoint controls to limit risky document handling workflows.
- Remove or upgrade unused FrameMaker installations.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Adobe FrameMaker versions across managed endpoints.
- Flag 2019 Update 8 or earlier and 2020 Release Update 2 or earlier.
- Confirm Adobe APSB21-74 remediation status on affected systems.
- Review whether users process external TIF files in FrameMaker.
- Check vulnerability scanner results against the CVE identifier.
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
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-39865 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
- Low
- CVSS
- 3.3 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
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:L/I:N/A:N1.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
3.3LowVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/framemaker/apsb21-74.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
- https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-22-429/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 Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.