Adobe Photoshop: Out-of-bounds write allows code execution
Summary
Adobe Photoshop Desktop contains an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) tracked as CVE-2026-97312. An attacker who gets a user to open a crafted file can execute arbitrary code with the rights of the current user. User interaction is required, and the attack vector is local.
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 documented. Installing the update is the fix.
- Until patched, do not open untrusted files in Photoshop, such as unexpected email attachments or downloads from unknown sources (operational recommendation, not a vendor statement).
Exploitation
- Adobe is not aware of any exploits in the wild for the issues in APSB26-158.
- Zero Day Initiative lists the bulletin as not exploited.
- CISA SSVC assessment: exploitation none, not automatable.
- No public proof of concept found at the time of research.
Our recommendation
- Update Photoshop to 27.11 or 26.11.8 via the Creative Cloud desktop app, or deploy through the Admin Console in managed environments.
- Verify the installed version on all workstations, since managed installs may not update automatically.
- Until patched, only open files from trusted sources.
- Prioritise patching for workstations that process files from external parties.
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
- Strix: CVE-2026-97312 www.strix.ai
- Nessus plugin MACOS_ADOBE_PHOTOSHOP_APSB26-158 (Vulners) vulners.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, 00:01.
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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