CVE-2026-95636 in Photoshop Desktop
Summary
by MITRE • 10/14/2026
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 • 10/14/2026
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 related to buffer sizes before allocating heap memory. When an attacker crafts a malicious file containing specially manipulated metadata or pixel data that triggers this miscalculation, the application may allocate significantly less memory than required for subsequent write operations. This discrepancy creates a classic stack-based or heap-based buffer overflow condition, allowing an adversary to overwrite adjacent memory structures with arbitrary data. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it resides in a component frequently used by both professional designers and casual users who routinely open external image files from untrusted sources such as email attachments, social media platforms, or downloaded archives.
Exploitation of this integer overflow requires direct user interaction, specifically the act of opening a maliciously crafted file within the Photoshop interface. The attacker must deliver a payload that exploits the memory corruption to gain control over the instruction pointer or return addresses on the stack. Once successful execution is achieved, the vulnerability allows for arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user account. This means that if an administrator opens such a file, they could inadvertently grant attackers full administrative privileges on the system. For standard users, the impact includes complete compromise of their personal data, installation of additional malware, or use of the machine as part of a botnet. The requirement for user interaction serves as a primary defense mechanism but is often bypassed through social engineering tactics that encourage victims to open seemingly legitimate image files without suspicion.
From a classification perspective, this vulnerability aligns with CWE-190 Integer Overflow or Wraparound and typically leads to CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write when the overflow results in memory corruption. In terms of attack vectors, it falls under MITRE ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, as the malicious file acts as a dropper or direct exploit mechanism targeting client-side applications. The operational impact extends beyond immediate code execution; successful exploitation can lead to privilege escalation if combined with other local vulnerabilities, data exfiltration of sensitive design assets stored locally, and potential lateral movement within enterprise environments where Photoshop is widely deployed for creative workflows.
Mitigation strategies must focus on both technical controls and user awareness. Adobe has released security updates that patch the underlying memory management logic by implementing strict bounds checking before buffer allocation. Organizations should prioritize deploying these patches across all workstations running affected versions of Photoshop Desktop immediately. Additionally, network-level defenses such as web proxies or email gateways can be configured to inspect incoming image files for known malicious signatures associated with this exploit chain. Users must be educated on the risks of opening unsolicited files and encouraged to verify the source integrity before launching them in any application capable of processing complex media formats. Regular auditing of installed software versions and disabling auto-open features for downloaded attachments further reduces the attack surface available to threat actors targeting creative professionals.