CVE-2026-27238
Heap-Based Buffer Overflow in Adobe InDesign Enables Code Execution
Publication date: 2026-04-14
Last updated on: 2026-04-16
Assigner: Adobe Systems Incorporated
Description
Description
CVSS Scores
EPSS Scores
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Meta Information
Affected Vendors & Products
| Vendor | Product | Version / Range |
|---|---|---|
| adobe | indesign | to 20.5.3 (exc) |
| adobe | indesign | From 21.0 (inc) to 21.3 (exc) |
Helpful Resources
Exploitability
| CWE ID | Description |
|---|---|
| CWE-122 | A heap overflow condition is a buffer overflow, where the buffer that can be overwritten is allocated in the heap portion of memory, generally meaning that the buffer was allocated using a routine such as malloc(). |
Attack-Flow Graph
AI Powered Q&A
Can you explain this vulnerability to me?
This vulnerability is a Heap-based Buffer Overflow found in Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.5.2, 21.2, and earlier. It occurs when a user opens a specially crafted malicious file, which can cause the program to overwrite parts of memory improperly.
As a result, an attacker could execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the current user, potentially taking control of the affected system.
Exploitation requires user interaction, meaning the victim must open the malicious file for the attack to succeed.
How can this vulnerability impact me? :
If exploited, this vulnerability can allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on your system with your user privileges.
This could lead to unauthorized actions such as installing malware, stealing data, or modifying files.
Since the attack requires opening a malicious file, users who handle files from untrusted sources are particularly at risk.
What immediate steps should I take to mitigate this vulnerability?
To mitigate this vulnerability, ensure that you do not open malicious files in affected versions of Adobe InDesign Desktop (versions 20.5.2, 21.2 and earlier).
Consider updating Adobe InDesign Desktop to a version later than 21.2 or 20.5.2 once a patch is available.
Avoid opening files from untrusted or unknown sources to prevent exploitation that requires user interaction.