Adobe Photoshop: Heap-based buffer overflow allows code execution
Summary
A heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Photoshop Desktop can be exploited by opening a malicious file. A successful attacker can execute arbitrary code with the rights of the current user. The attack requires that a victim opens the file, so it is a local, user-triggered risk, and it is not exposed to the network.
Affected
- Photoshop 2026 (27.11 and earlier), Windows and macOS
- Photoshop 2025 (26.11.8 and earlier), Windows and macOS
Fixed in
- Photoshop 2026: update to 27.11.1
- Photoshop 2027: update to 28.0
- Photoshop 2025: no further update planned; move to Photoshop 2026 (27.11.1) or Photoshop 2027 (28.0)
Workaround
Unknown. No vendor workaround is documented.
Interim measure until patched: do not open Photoshop files from unknown or untrusted sources.
Exploitation
- Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild for the issues in APSB26-181.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable.
- No public proof of concept known at the time of writing.
Our recommendation
- Identify all Photoshop installations and their branch (2025, 2026 or 2027).
- Update Photoshop 2026 to 27.11.1 or Photoshop 2027 to 28.0 via the Creative Cloud desktop app or your software management tool.
- Move Photoshop 2025 installations to a supported version.
- Until patched, restrict opening of files from untrusted sources, especially email attachments and downloads.
- Monitor the advisory and CVE record for changes.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-181 www.adobe.com
- CVE Record CVE-2026-116480 www.cve.org
- ZDI November 2026 security update review www.zerodayinitiative.com
- OffSeq Radar CVE-2026-116480 radar.offseq.com
- Strix CVE-2026-116480 www.strix.ai
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, 02:04.
Original description (NVD)
Photoshop Desktop is affected by a Heap-based Buffer Overflow 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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