CVE-2025-21163
Published: 11 February 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-21163 is a high-severity Stack-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-121) vulnerability in Adobe Illustrator. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked at the 24.6th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Deeper analysis
CVE-2025-21163 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-121, CWE-787) affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 29.1, 28.7.3, and earlier. Published on 2025-02-11, the issue has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) and could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, where a victim must open a malicious file. An attacker can craft such a file to trigger the buffer overflow, achieving high-impact confidentiality, integrity, and availability effects without needing privileges or high complexity.
Adobe security bulletin APSB25-11 provides details on the vulnerability and mitigation, available at https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/illustrator/apsb25-11.html.
EU & UK References
- 🇪🇺 ENISA EUVD: EUVD-2025-2255
Vulnerability details
Illustrator versions 29.1, 28.7.3 and earlier are affected by a Stack-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…
more
open a malicious file.
- CWE(s)
Related Threats
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Buffer overflow in file parser enables arbitrary code execution triggered by opening a crafted malicious file (user interaction required).
CVEs Like This One
Affected Assets
Mitigating Controls
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI
Directly remediates the stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Illustrator by requiring timely application of vendor security patches as per APSB25-11.
Implements memory protection mechanisms such as stack canaries, DEP, and ASLR that directly prevent exploitation of stack-based buffer overflows leading to arbitrary code execution.
Deploys malicious code protection at file entry points to scan and block crafted malicious Illustrator files before user interaction triggers the buffer overflow.