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CVE-2021-36059: Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer (CWE-788) in Adobe Bridge

Medium
Published: Wed Sep 01 2021 (09/01/2021, 14:33:20 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: Adobe
Product: Bridge

Description

Adobe Bridge version 11.1 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability due to insecure handling of a malicious Bridge file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 06/23/2025, 22:39:44 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2021-36059 is a memory corruption vulnerability classified under CWE-788 (Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer) affecting Adobe Bridge version 11.1 and earlier. The vulnerability arises from insecure handling of maliciously crafted Bridge files, which can trigger out-of-bounds memory access. This flaw can lead to memory corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically opening or processing a malicious Bridge file. Since Adobe Bridge is a digital asset management application widely used by creative professionals to organize and preview multimedia files, the vulnerability could be leveraged to compromise systems where Bridge is installed. No public exploits are known to be in the wild, and Adobe has not provided a patch link in the provided data, indicating that remediation may require vendor updates or workarounds. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling code execution, but the attack vector is limited by the need for user action and the scope is constrained to the current user's privileges.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-36059 depends largely on the prevalence of Adobe Bridge within their operational environments. Creative industries, media companies, advertising agencies, and design departments in enterprises are most at risk, as they commonly use Adobe Bridge for asset management. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, enabling attackers to steal sensitive data, deploy malware, or disrupt workflows. This is particularly concerning for organizations handling intellectual property or sensitive client data. However, the requirement for user interaction reduces the risk of widespread automated exploitation. The vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted phishing campaigns or supply chain attacks where malicious Bridge files are delivered via email or shared storage. Given the lack of known exploits, the immediate threat level is moderate, but the potential for escalation exists if attackers develop reliable exploit code. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces may face increased risk if users open untrusted files on vulnerable systems.

Mitigation Recommendations

1. Restrict usage of Adobe Bridge to trusted users and environments, minimizing exposure. 2. Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious Bridge files, emphasizing caution with email attachments and shared files. 3. Implement application whitelisting and sandboxing for Adobe Bridge to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 4. Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual activity related to Adobe Bridge processes or file access patterns. 5. Regularly check for and apply vendor patches or updates as they become available, even if not currently published, to address this vulnerability. 6. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous behaviors indicative of memory corruption or code execution attempts. 7. Consider disabling or uninstalling Adobe Bridge on systems where it is not essential to reduce attack surface. 8. Use file integrity monitoring on directories where Bridge files are stored or processed to detect unauthorized modifications.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
adobe
Date Reserved
2021-06-30T00:00:00.000Z
Cisa Enriched
true

Threat ID: 682d9841c4522896dcbf1ba8

Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:09:21 AM

Last enriched: 6/23/2025, 10:39:44 PM

Last updated: 7/26/2025, 9:11:35 PM

Views: 9

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