CVE-2026-82007 in Photoshop
Summary
by MITRE • 09/08/2026
Photoshop Desktop is affected by an Integer Overflow or Wraparound 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/08/2026
The Adobe Photoshop Desktop application contains a critical integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability within its core image processing engine, specifically affecting how memory buffers are allocated and managed during the parsing of complex graphic files. This flaw arises when the software fails to properly validate arithmetic operations involving buffer sizes or array indices derived from file metadata. When an attacker crafts a malicious file containing specially constructed data fields that trigger these miscalculations, the application may allocate significantly less memory than required for subsequent processing steps. This discrepancy leads to a heap-based integer overflow condition where write operations exceed the boundaries of the allocated buffer, overwriting adjacent memory structures such as function pointers or object headers in the process heap space.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability is classified under CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound and often intersects with CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write depending on the specific exploitation vector utilized by an attacker. The root cause lies in insufficient boundary checks during the decoding of image data streams, particularly when handling large dimensions or complex layer structures common in professional graphic design files. By manipulating these parameters to force a wraparound condition, an adversary can control the destination address for memory writes, thereby gaining arbitrary read and write capabilities within the application's process space. This capability is foundational for achieving code execution without requiring elevated privileges on the host system.
The operational impact of exploiting this vulnerability is severe, as it allows for remote code execution in the context of the currently logged-in user. Since Adobe Photoshop typically runs with standard user permissions rather than administrative rights, successful exploitation does not immediately grant full control over the operating system but provides a foothold within the user's environment. Attackers can leverage this access to install malware, steal sensitive documents stored locally, exfiltrate proprietary design assets, or use the compromised workstation as a pivot point for further network intrusion. The requirement for user interaction means that social engineering tactics are often employed; victims must be tricked into opening a seemingly legitimate but maliciously crafted PSD, TIFF, or other supported image file format to trigger the exploit chain.
Mitigation strategies primarily focus on immediate patching and behavioral controls until updates can be deployed. Organizations should prioritize applying the latest security patches released by Adobe for all installations of Photoshop Desktop across their enterprise environments. In addition to software remediation, implementing application whitelisting solutions such as Microsoft AppLocker or Windows Defender Application Control can restrict the execution of untrusted binaries spawned from image processing applications. Furthermore, deploying endpoint detection and response tools with heuristic analysis capabilities may help identify anomalous memory access patterns indicative of heap exploitation attempts. Users should be educated on the risks associated with opening files from unknown sources, reinforcing that even trusted file formats like images are not immune to code execution vulnerabilities when processed by vulnerable software components.