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Illustrator CVE-2021-21102

HIGH
Path Traversal (CWE-22)
2021-06-28 psirt@adobe.com
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A01:2025 - Broken Access Control
ASVS 5.0
V5 - File Handling Path canonicalization, traversal prevention
MITRE ATT&CK

2 techniques across 2 tactics: Discovery, Collection

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could access files and directories outside the intended path by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
No patch listed yet 3.9% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

Adobe Illustrator version 25.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Path Traversal vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. No vendor patch available.

RemediationAI

No vendor patch is available at time of analysis. Monitor vendor advisories for updates. Validate and canonicalize file paths. Use chroot or sandboxing. Reject input containing path separators or '../' sequences.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Path Traversal (CWE-22), which allows attackers to access files and directories outside the intended path. Adobe Illustrator version 25.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Path Traversal 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. Affected products include: Adobe Illustrator. Version information: version 25.2.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

Adobe Illustrator version 25.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Path Traversal 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.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
3.9%
Top 11% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 3.9%
Patch available No
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

48
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +4
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Path traversal exploits occur when applications use user-controlled input to construct file system paths without proper validation.

Remote Code Execution represents the critical moment when an attacker successfully runs arbitrary code on a target system without physical access.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:illustrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
CVE-2012-0780 CRITICAL POC
10.0 May 09

Adobe Illustrator before CS6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption)

CVE-2012-2025 CRITICAL
10.0 May 09

Adobe Illustrator before CS6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption)

CVE-2012-2024 CRITICAL
10.0 May 09

Adobe Illustrator before CS6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption)

CVE-2012-2026 CRITICAL
10.0 May 09

Adobe Illustrator before CS6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption)

CVE-2012-2023 CRITICAL
10.0 May 09

Adobe Illustrator before CS6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption)

CVE-2014-0513 CRITICAL
10.0 May 14

Stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe Illustrator CS6 before 16.0.5 and 16.2.x before 16.2.2 allows remote attackers to e

CVE-2012-2042 CRITICAL
10.0 May 24

Adobe Illustrator before CS6 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code or cause a denial of service (memory corruption)

CVE-2026-48334 CRITICAL
9.3 Jul 14

Arbitrary code execution in Adobe Illustrator 2025 (≤29.8.7) and 2026 (≤30.5) allows an attacker to run code in the cont

CVE-2021-21105 HIGH
8.8 Sep 08

Adobe Illustrator version 25.2 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability when parsing a specially c

CVE-2021-21104 HIGH
8.8 Sep 08

Adobe Illustrator version 25.2 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability when parsing a specially c

CVE-2021-21103 HIGH
8.8 Sep 08

Adobe Illustrator version 25.2 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability when parsing a specially c

CVE-2021-21101 HIGH
8.8 Jun 28

Adobe Illustrator version 25.2 (and earlier) is affected by an Out-of-bounds Write vulnerability when parsing a speciall

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