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TI-2021-18941 Aliases CVE-2021-42731GHSA-wqw8-8r4w-rccx

Adobe Indesign Buffer Overflow Could Lead to Remote Code Execution

Priority MEDIUM 44CWE-120Published · 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-120 and the CVSS impact.

Summary

Adobe InDesign versions 16.4 (and earlier) are affected by a Buffer Overflow vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.0517 92nd 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

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
AdobeInDesignup to 16.4; up to None—No fix listedCNA
  • InDesign VendorAdobe Affected up to 16.4; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA

CPE configurations NVD · 3

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:adobe:indesign:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*up to 16.4VulnerableAdobe
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:indesign:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions up to 16.4 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-2021-42731
  2. 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-wqw8-8r4w-rccx

References

Advisory 1

  • 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
See all 201 →

Sources

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