CVE-2021-21102 is a path traversal vulnerability (CWE-22) affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 25.2 and earlier. This vulnerability arises due to improper limitation of pathname inputs when parsing specially crafted Illustrator files. An attacker can exploit this flaw by crafting a malicious file that, when opened by a user in Adobe Illustrator, allows the attacker to traverse directories outside the intended restricted directory. This can lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user. The attack vector requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a malicious Illustrator file. No authentication is required for exploitation, but the victim must be convinced to open the file, which could be delivered via phishing, malicious downloads, or other social engineering techniques. There are no known public exploits in the wild, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided information. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling arbitrary code execution, potentially allowing attackers to install malware, steal data, or disrupt operations on affected systems. Since Adobe Illustrator is widely used in creative industries, marketing, and design, the vulnerability poses a risk to organizations relying on this software for critical workflows.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for sectors heavily reliant on Adobe Illustrator such as advertising agencies, media companies, design studios, and manufacturing firms involved in product design. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive intellectual property, disruption of design workflows, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks if the compromised user account has elevated privileges. The arbitrary code execution capability means attackers could deploy ransomware, spyware, or other malware, leading to data breaches or operational downtime. Given the requirement for user interaction, phishing campaigns targeting European employees could be an effective attack vector. The medium severity rating suggests that while the vulnerability is serious, it is not trivially exploitable without user action, somewhat limiting widespread impact. However, organizations with poor user awareness or lacking endpoint protection could be at higher risk.

1. Immediate mitigation involves educating users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected Illustrator files, especially from unknown or untrusted sources. 2. Implement email filtering and attachment sandboxing to detect and block potentially malicious Illustrator files before reaching end users. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting suspicious process behavior related to Adobe Illustrator. 4. Restrict user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the impact of arbitrary code execution. 5. Monitor network and host logs for unusual activity following the opening of Illustrator files. 6. Since no official patch is referenced, organizations should check Adobe’s security advisories regularly and apply updates as soon as they become available. 7. Consider isolating or sandboxing Illustrator usage environments to contain potential exploitation. 8. Use application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution spawned by Illustrator processes.