« Back to list

CVE-2021-36009

Status: ModifiedHigh (7.8)—

Adobe Illustrator version 25.2.3 (and earlier) is affected by an memory corruption 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.

CVSS

Exploitation probability (EPSS)

EPSS (Exploit Prediction Scoring System, FIRST) estimates how likely a vulnerability is to be exploited in the wild within 30 days. It complements CVSS (impact) and CISA KEV (confirmed exploitation).

Affected technologies (1)

Adobe — Illustrator

CWEs

References

Raw JSON (NVD)

Show
{
  "id": "CVE-2021-36009",
  "cveTags": [],
  "metrics": {
    "ssvcV203": [
      {
        "source": "134c704f-9b21-4f2e-91b3-4a467353bcc0",
        "ssvcData": {
          "id": "CVE-2021-36009",
          "role": "CISA Coordinator",
          "options": [
            {
              "exploitation": "none"
            },
            {
              "automatable": "no"
            },
            {
              "technicalImpact": "total"
            }
          ],
          "version": "2.0.3",
          "timestamp": "2025-04-23T13:18:21.420857Z"
        }
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV2": [
      {
        "type": "Primary",
        "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
        "cvssData": {
          "version": "2.0",
          "baseScore": 9.3,
          "accessVector": "NETWORK",
          "vectorString": "AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C",
          "authentication": "NONE",
          "integrityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "accessComplexity": "MEDIUM",
          "availabilityImpact": "COMPLETE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "COMPLETE"
        },
        "acInsufInfo": false,
        "impactScore": 10,
        "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
        "obtainAllPrivilege": false,
        "exploitabilityScore": 8.6,
        "obtainUserPrivilege": false,
        "obtainOtherPrivilege": false,
        "userInteractionRequired": true
      }
    ],
    "cvssMetricV31": [
      {
        "type": "Secondary",
        "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
        "cvssData": {
          "scope": "UNCHANGED",
          "version": "3.1",
          "baseScore": 7.8,
          "attackVector": "LOCAL",
          "baseSeverity": "HIGH",
          "vectorString": "CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H",
          "integrityImpact": "HIGH",
          "userInteraction": "REQUIRED",
          "attackComplexity": "LOW",
          "availabilityImpact": "HIGH",
          "privilegesRequired": "NONE",
          "confidentialityImpact": "HIGH"
        },
        "impactScore": 5.9,
        "exploitabilityScore": 1.8
      }
    ]
  },
  "affected": [
    {
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
      "affectedData": [
        {
          "vendor": "Adobe",
          "product": "Illustrator",
          "versions": [
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "25.2.3"
            },
            {
              "status": "affected",
              "version": "unspecified",
              "versionType": "custom",
              "lessThanOrEqual": "None"
            }
          ]
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "published": "2021-08-20T19:15:10.793",
  "references": [
    {
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/illustrator/apsb21-42.html",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-1147/",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/illustrator/apsb21-42.html",
      "tags": [
        "Vendor Advisory"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    },
    {
      "url": "https://www.zerodayinitiative.com/advisories/ZDI-21-1147/",
      "tags": [
        "Third Party Advisory",
        "VDB Entry"
      ],
      "source": "af854a3a-2127-422b-91ae-364da2661108"
    }
  ],
  "vulnStatus": "Modified",
  "weaknesses": [
    {
      "type": "Secondary",
      "source": "psirt@adobe.com",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-788"
        }
      ]
    },
    {
      "type": "Primary",
      "source": "nvd@nist.gov",
      "description": [
        {
          "lang": "en",
          "value": "CWE-787"
        }
      ]
    }
  ],
  "descriptions": [
    {
      "lang": "en",
      "value": "Adobe Illustrator version 25.2.3 (and earlier) is affected by an memory corruption 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."
    },
    {
      "lang": "es",
      "value": "Adobe Illustrator versiones 25.2.3 (y anteriores), está afectada por una vulnerabilidad de corrupción de memoria cuando se analiza un archivo especialmente diseñado. Un atacante no autenticado podría aprovechar esta vulnerabilidad para lograr una ejecución de código arbitrario en el contexto del usuario actual. Una explotación de este problema requiere una interacción del usuario, ya que la víctima debe abrir un archivo malicioso."
    }
  ],
  "lastModified": "2026-06-17T03:58:12.003",
  "configurations": [
    {
      "nodes": [
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:a:adobe:illustrator:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": true,
              "matchCriteriaId": "35C4E1A4-01C7-4219-B69C-AA48FCE3C0AD",
              "versionEndIncluding": "25.2.3"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        },
        {
          "negate": false,
          "cpeMatch": [
            {
              "criteria": "cpe:2.3:o:microsoft:windows:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*",
              "vulnerable": false,
              "matchCriteriaId": "A2572D17-1DE6-457B-99CC-64AFD54487EA"
            }
          ],
          "operator": "OR"
        }
      ],
      "operator": "AND"
    }
  ],
  "sourceIdentifier": "psirt@adobe.com"
}