Adobe Photoshop: Out-of-bounds write leads to code execution
Summary
Adobe Photoshop Desktop 27.10 and earlier (2026) and 26.11.7 and earlier (2025) contain an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787). An attacker who convinces a user to open a malicious file can execute arbitrary code with the rights of the logged-in user. Photoshop is not a network service, so exploitation requires user interaction and a malicious file delivered by email or download.
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 workaround needed once the update is installed.
- Until patched: do not open image or document files from untrusted sources, including unexpected email attachments and downloads.
Exploitation
- Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- No public proof of concept was found during research; this does not rule one out.
Our recommendation
- Update Photoshop to 27.11 (2026) or 26.11.8 (2025) via the Creative Cloud desktop app or the Admin Console.
- Prioritise systems that open files from external parties, such as design, marketing and print staff.
- Until patched, warn users about untrusted files and check the Creative Cloud update status.
- Monitor for unusual Photoshop crashes or unexpected processes started by Photoshop.
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Adobe Security Bulletin APSB26-158 www.adobe.com
- ZDI: The October 2026 Security Update Review www.zerodayinitiative.com
- VulDB entry 418533 vuldb.com
- CVE-2026-96522 record mirror cve.threatint.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 2 Nov 2026, 00:02.
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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