Cyber Resilience

CVE-2025-61819

Memory Safety in Adobe Photoshop ≤ 26.9

Published
11 November 2025
Modified
12 November 2025
Patch / advisory
CVSS Score v3.1 7.8
Click a component to see what it means
Raw vectorCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
EPSS Score 0.0032 25th percentile
Risk Priority 55 floored blend · peak EPSS

Summary

CVE-2025-61819 is a high-severity Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122) vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).

Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Malicious File (T1204.002); ranked at the 25th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.

The strongest mitigations our analysis identified map to SI-10 (Information Input Validation) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) — see the control section below for these in your framework.

EU & UK References

Vulnerability Data

Photoshop Desktop versions 26.8.1 and earlier are 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…

more

open a malicious file.

CWE(s)

Related Threats

MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI

T1204.002 Malicious File Execution
An adversary may rely upon a user opening a malicious file in order to gain execution.
T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution Execution
Adversaries may exploit software vulnerabilities in client applications to execute code.
T1055 Process Injection Stealth
Adversaries may inject code into processes in order to evade process-based defenses as well as possibly elevate privileges.
Why these techniques?

User must open a malicious file (T1204.002) to trigger the heap buffer overflow (CWE-122/CWE-787), enabling client-side exploitation (T1203) that can lead to arbitrary code execution via process injection (T1055).

Confidence: HIGH · MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise v19.0

CVEs Like This One

CVE-2025-61820Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2025-27198Same product: Adobe Photoshop
CVE-2025-24453Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2026-21357Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2025-27171Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2026-21281Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2025-61816Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2025-21123Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2026-21283Same product: Apple Macos
CVE-2025-21129Same product: Apple Macos

Affected Assets

adobe
photoshop
≤ 26.9

Mitigating Controls

Control response

Prevent
Stop it (NIST 800-53)
  • SI-10 Information Input Validation
  • SI-2 Flaw Remediation
  • SI-3 Malicious Code Protection
Detect
Catch it (NIST detect / respond)
  • SI-3 Malicious Code Protection
Harden
Shrink the surface (DISA STIG)

Validate
Prove the fix (OWASP ASVS)
  • V1.4.1

Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5) AI

prevent

Directly enforces validation of untrusted file input to block out-of-bounds writes (CWE-787) during Photoshop's parsing of malicious files.

prevent

Requires timely application of vendor patches to eliminate the heap buffer overflow in Photoshop versions <= 26.8.1.

preventdetect

Deploys malicious-code detection mechanisms that can inspect and block opening of files crafted to trigger the buffer overflow.

Mitigating Controls (NIST CSF 2.0) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→CSF cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

PR.PS-06 full match
prevents

Secure-development practices directly require bounds checking and safe memory handling that prevent heap overflows.

ID.RA-01 partial match
prevents

Vulnerability scanning and recording can discover heap-overflow flaws but does not prevent their introduction in code.

PR.PS-02 partial match
prevents

Timely patching removes known heap-overflow instances after they exist.

Mitigating Controls (ISO/IEC 27001:2022 Annex A) AI

Derived directly from the weakness types (CWEs) cited in the NVD entry via our AI-authored CWE→ISO cross-walk (authority under review) — links open the control.

detects

Security testing in development and acceptance can detect heap overflows before release.

prevents

Secure development lifecycle mandates practices that reduce the likelihood of introducing heap overflows.

prevents

Application security requirements can specify bounds-checking and safe memory APIs that mitigate heap overflows.

prevents

Secure architecture and engineering principles include memory-safety and input-validation controls that address heap overflows.

prevents

Secure coding standards directly prescribe techniques (safe functions, bounds checks) that prevent heap-based buffer overflows.

prevents

Change management can enforce review gates that catch unsafe memory operations before deployment.

References