Adobe Photoshop: Incorrect Authorization allows code execution via malicious file
Summary
Adobe Photoshop 2026 (27.10 and earlier) and Photoshop 2025 (26.11.7 and earlier) on Windows and macOS contain an Incorrect Authorization flaw (CWE-863). If a victim opens a malicious file, an attacker can execute arbitrary code with the rights of the current user, and the scope is changed. No privileges are required, but user interaction is. Adobe rates the update Priority 3 and is not aware of any exploits in the wild.
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
Unknown.
- Do not open untrusted or unexpected Photoshop files until the update is installed.
Exploitation
- Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild.
- The Zero Day Initiative review marks the bulletin as not exploited.
- VulDB reports that no exploit is available.
- No public proof of concept or exploit code was found.
- CISA SSVC assessment: Exploitation none.
- Not listed in CISA KEV (per Strix).
Our recommendation
- Update Photoshop 2026 to 27.11 or Photoshop 2025 to 26.11.8 via the Creative Cloud desktop app, or deploy the update through the Admin Console in managed environments.
- Prioritise users who regularly open files from email, downloads or shared drives.
- Instruct staff not to open unexpected Photoshop files until patched.
- Check the installed versions on Windows and macOS workstations.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-158 www.adobe.com
- Zero Day Initiative: October 2026 Security Update Review www.zerodayinitiative.com
- VulDB entry 418530 vuldb.com
- Strix CVE-2026-95639 www.strix.ai
- Adobe Photoshop desktop release notes helpx.adobe.com
- CG Channel: Adobe releases Photoshop 27.11 www.cgchannel.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 1 Nov 2026, 08:17.
Original description (NVD)
Photoshop Desktop is affected by an Incorrect Authorization vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to execute arbitrary code. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file. Scope is changed.
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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