Adobe Photoshop: Out-of-bounds write allows arbitrary code execution
Summary
An out-of-bounds write in Adobe Photoshop Desktop can be used to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The attack requires the victim to open a malicious file, and the attacker needs no login, but the attack is local and the software is not exposed to the internet. The CVSS base score is 7.8 (High). The issue is part of Adobe security bulletin APSB26-181.
Affected
- Adobe Photoshop 2026 (27.11 and earlier) on Windows and macOS
- Adobe Photoshop 2025 (26.11.8 and earlier) on Windows and macOS
Fixed in
- Adobe Photoshop 2026: update to 27.11.1
- Adobe Photoshop 2027: update to 28.0
- Adobe Photoshop 2025: no further update will be provided; move to Photoshop 2026 (27.11.1) or Photoshop 2027 (28.0)
Workaround
- Unknown. No workaround is published in the sources.
Exploitation
- Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild for the issues in APSB26-181.
- CISA SSVC exploitation status: none.
- Public proof of concept: unknown.
Our recommendation
- Update Photoshop to 27.11.1 or 28.0 via Creative Cloud, and roll the update out to all installations, including managed devices via the Admin Console.
- Replace Photoshop 2025, which receives no further security updates.
- Restrict opening of unsolicited files from email and downloads, and run Photoshop with standard user rights.
- Monitor for unusual Photoshop crashes or processes started by Photoshop.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- CVE Record CVE-2026-116003 (CNA: Adobe) www.cve.org
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-181 www.adobe.com
- ZDI November 2026 security update review www.zerodayinitiative.com
- OffSeq record CVE-2026-116003 radar.offseq.com
- Strix record CVE-2026-116003 www.strix.ai
- Adobe Photoshop security bulletins (Admin Console deployment) helpx.adobe.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 11 Nov 2026, 02:06.
Original description (NVD)
Photoshop Desktop is affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in 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.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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