Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This is a low-severity Adobe Bridge flaw that can expose small amounts of memory if a user opens a malicious file. The business risk is mainly to creative or marketing workstations, not internet-facing systems. It may assist a larger attack by weakening memory protections such as ASLR.
Executive priority
Handle during normal patch cycles unless Adobe Bridge is widely used with external files. Escalate if affected workstations process client-supplied or internet-sourced media regularly.
Technical view
CVE-2021-45051 is a CWE-416 use-after-free in Adobe Bridge versions 11.1.2 and earlier and 12.0 and earlier. The source describes sensitive memory disclosure during Format event action processing. CVSS v3.1 is 3.3, with local attack vector, required user interaction, and confidentiality-only impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is limited to endpoints with affected Adobe Bridge versions installed, especially users who handle external image or project files. Systems not running Adobe Bridge are not affected based on the provided sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires convincing a user to open a malicious file, so phishing or file-sharing workflows are the likely delivery context.
Researcher notes
The provided evidence supports memory disclosure and possible ASLR mitigation bypass, but not code execution or active exploitation. Fixed-version details are not included in the bundle, so remediation should be verified against Adobe APSB22-03.
Mitigation direction
- Review and apply Adobe guidance in APSB22-03 for Adobe Bridge.
- Update Adobe Bridge beyond affected versions where vendor updates are available.
- Restrict opening untrusted files on systems using Adobe Bridge.
- Use endpoint controls to inspect downloaded or externally shared creative files.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints for Adobe Bridge installations.
- Identify Bridge versions 11.1.2 and earlier or 12.0 and earlier.
- Confirm Adobe APSB22-03 guidance has been applied.
- Review file-handling workflows for untrusted external media.
- Check vulnerability management tools for CVE-2021-45051 detection coverage.
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
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CWE-416: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-45051 mapping review
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Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Low
- CVSS
- 3.3 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/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:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N1.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
3.3LowVector: CVSS:3.1/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/bridge/apsb22-03.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.
Use After Free
Use After Free represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.