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TI-2021-09669 Aliases CVE-2021-28597GHSA-p6gc-38cf-8626

Adobe Photoshop Elements Privilege Escalation Vulnerability - symbolic link

Priority LOW 25CWE-379Published · Updated

Key facts

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

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

Adobe Photoshop Elements version 5.2 (and earlier) is affected by an insecure temporary file creation vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability 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 0.00476 41st 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
Partial

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

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
AdobePhotoshop Elementsup to 5.2; up to None—No fix listedCNA
  • Photoshop Elements VendorAdobe Affected up to 5.2; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:photoshop_elements:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*before 5.3VulnerableAdobe
cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onApple
cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*not specified by NVDRunning onMicrosoft
  • cpe:2.3:a:adobe:photoshop_elements:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 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

  1. 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-28597
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-p6gc-38cf-8626

References

Advisory 1

  • TI-2007-02283 Buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop CS2 and CS3, Photoshop Elements 5.0, Illustrator CS3… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2011-02137 Multiple buffer overflows in Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 and earlier allow remote… CVSS 2.0HIGH 9.3
  • TI-2021-17056 Adobe Photoshop Elements Edit 2021 TTF Font Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2009-03327 Adobe Photoshop Elements 8.0 installs the Adobe Active File Monitor V8 service with an… CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
  • TI-2025-15134 Photoshop Elements | Creation of Temporary File in Directory with Incorrect Permissions (CWE-379) CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 5.5

Sources

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