TI-2021-04175 Aliases CVE-2021-21069 GHSA-h3f9-x7c2-q5h9

Adobe Creative Cloud Privilege Escalation Vulnerability

MEDIUM 41CWE-20Published 2021-03-12 · Updated 2025-04-23

Key facts

Attack vector: Local
Privileges required: Low
User interaction: None
Attack complexity: Low
Impact type: —
Confidentiality · integrity · availability: High · High · High
Fix status: No fix listed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application version 5.3 (and earlier) is affected by a local privilege escalation vulnerability that could allow an attacker to call functions against the installer to perform high privileged actions. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV

EPSS 0.02636 85th percentileScored 2026-11-07

Fix No fix listed No fixed version in the sources yet

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation: None
Automatable: No
Technical impact: Total

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

Vendor	Product	Affected versions	Fixed in	Status	Source
Adobe	Creative Cloud (desktop component)	up to 5.3.1.470a; up to None	—	No fix listed	CNA

Creative Cloud (desktop component) VendorAdobe Affected up to 5.3.1.470a; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPE	Versions	Role	Vendor
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:creative_cloud_desktop_application::::::::	up to 5.3	Vulnerable	Adobe
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:::::::*	not specified by NVD	Running on	Apple
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:::::::*	not specified by NVD	Running on	Microsoft

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:creative_cloud_desktop_application:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 5.3 Vulnerable ·Adobe
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Microsoft

Remediation

No fixed version listed by the sources yet.

Timeline

2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-21069
2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-h3f9-x7c2-q5h9

References

Patch 1

https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/creative-cloud/apsb21-18.html

Advisory 1

https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-281/

TI-2020-07769 Link following in Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2020-07758 Incorrect permission assignment in Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2020-07757 Link following in Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
TI-2021-19087 Adobe Creative Cloud Incorrect Permission Assignment Privilege Escalation Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
TI-2021-09666 Creative Cloud Desktop installer Uncontrolled Search Path element could lead to arbitrary code execution CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
TI-2022-07354 Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Uncontrolled Search Path Element Arbitrary code execution CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.0

See all 15 →

Sources

This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences