Adobe Photoshop: Heap-based buffer overflow in file processing
Summary
Adobe Photoshop Desktop on Windows and macOS contains a heap-based buffer overflow. An attacker can execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires that a victim opens a malicious file, for example an email attachment or a download. Adobe fixed the issue in security update APSB26-158.
Affected
- Photoshop 2026: 27.10 and earlier (Windows and macOS)
- Photoshop 2025: 26.11.7 and earlier (Windows and macOS)
Fixed in
- Photoshop 2026: 27.11
- Photoshop 2025: 26.11.8
Workaround
No vendor workaround is listed. Installing the update is the fix.
Exploitation
- Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild for the issues in APSB26-158.
- CISA SSVC: exploitation none, automatable no, technical impact total.
- No public proof of concept is known.
- Not listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
Our recommendation
- Update Photoshop to 27.11 or 26.11.8 via the Creative Cloud desktop app, or deploy the update centrally via the Admin Console.
- Prioritise workstations that regularly open files from external sources, such as design, marketing and creative teams.
- Until patched, do not open unsolicited Photoshop or image files from email or downloads.
- Check the installed versions of all Photoshop installations and report any outdated ones.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-158 www.adobe.com
- Strix: CVE-2026-95638 www.strix.ai
- VulDB: CVE-2026-95638 vuldb.com
- ZDI: The October 2026 Security Update Review www.zerodayinitiative.com
- HKCERT: Adobe monthly security update October 2026 www.hkcert.org
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 2 Nov 2026, 00:05.
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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