Adobe InDesign Memory Corruption Vulnerability Could Lead to Arbitrary Code Execution
Priority MEDIUM 42CWE-787Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-787 and the CVSS impact.
Summary
Adobe InDesign versions 16.3 (and earlier), and 16.3.1 (and earlier) is affected by an Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability due to insecure handling of a malicious TIFF file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.03586 89th 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 | InDesign | up to 16.3.2 | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- InDesign VendorAdobe Affected up to 16.3.2 Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 4
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:indesign:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 16.3.2 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Apple |
| cpe:2.3:a:adobe:indesign:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | up to 16.3 | Vulnerable | Adobe |
| cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | not specified by NVD | Running on | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:indesign:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 16.3.2 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- cpe:2.3:o:apple:macos:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions not specified by NVD Running on ·Apple
- cpe:2.3:a:adobe:indesign:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 16.3 Vulnerable ·Adobe
- 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-2021-39820
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-fpr8-8mr7-5wxx
References
More Adobe Indesign vulnerabilities
- TI-2019-05027 Adobe InDesign versions 14.0.1 and below have an unsafe hyperlink processing… CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2017-08345 Memory corruption in Adobe InDesign 12.1.0 and earlier versions CVSS 3.0CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2016-06630 Memory corruption in Adobe InDesign 11.4.1 and earlier, InDesign Server 11.0.0 and earlier CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-04203 Adobe InDesign PCX file parsing out-of-bounds write vulnerability could lead to remote code execution CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2021-04202 Adobe InDesign PCX file parsing out-of-bounds write vulnerability could lead to remote code execution CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2020-07817 Out-of-bounds memory access could lead to code execution CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-39820 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-39820 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-fpr8-8mr7-5wxx · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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