CVE-2021-42731
Adobe Indesign Buffer Overflow Could Lead to Remote Code Execution
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.
Attack profile
How easy it is to exploit
- Attack vector
- Local
- Complexity
- Low
- Privileges needed
- None
- User interaction
- Required
What an attacker can affect
- Confidentiality
- High
- Integrity
- High
- Availability
- High
Exploit likelihood
What each source reports
CVE List Score used
Adobe Indesign Buffer Overflow Could Lead to Remote Code Execution
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.
- Record
CVE-2021-42731- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Weakness
- CWE-120
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
EUVDEUVD-2021-29691
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.
- Record
EUVD-2021-29691- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - Updated
- 2026-11-02
GitHub AdvisoriesGHSA-wqw8-8r4w-rccxNo score
Adobe InDesign versions 16.4 (and earlier) are affected by a Buffer Overflow vulnerability when...
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.
- Record
GHSA-wqw8-8r4w-rccx- Weakness
- CWE-120
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
NVD
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.
- Record
CVE-2021-42731- CVSS 3.1
- 7.8 High
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H - CVSS 2.0
- 9.3 High
AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C - Weakness
- CWE-120
- Updated
- 2026-11-02
Affected products
History
| Recorded | Changed | Sources |
|---|---|---|
| first indexed | CVE List, EUVD, GitHub Advisories, NVD |
Dates are when Every CVE recorded each change. Upstream dates may differ.
In short
CVE-2021-42731 is a high vulnerability (CVSS 7.8) in Adobe Indesign, published November 16, 2021. No source lists public exploit code. EPSS puts the chance of exploitation in the next 30 days at 5.17%, the 92nd percentile. No source names a fixed version.