CVE-2021-42720
📋 TL;DR
Adobe Bridge versions 11.1.1 and earlier contain an out-of-bounds read vulnerability when parsing malicious files. An attacker could exploit this to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. Users who open untrusted files with vulnerable Adobe Bridge installations are affected.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Bridge
📦 What is this software?
Bridge by Adobe
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise through remote code execution with user privileges, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement.
Likely Case
Limited code execution in user context, potentially stealing files or credentials accessible to the user.
If Mitigated
No impact if users don't open untrusted files or if application is patched.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file) and bypassing ASLR/DEP protections.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 11.1.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/bridge/apsb21-94.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Adobe Creative Cloud desktop app. 2. Navigate to 'Apps' tab. 3. Find Adobe Bridge and click 'Update'. 4. Restart Adobe Bridge after update completes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable file parsing
allPrevent Adobe Bridge from automatically parsing unknown file types
Application whitelisting
windowsRestrict Adobe Bridge execution to trusted directories only
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict user training against opening untrusted files
- Use application control to block Adobe Bridge execution entirely
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Adobe Bridge version in Help > About Adobe BridgeCheck Version:
On Windows: wmic product where name="Adobe Bridge" get versionVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 11.1.2 or higher in Help > About Adobe Bridge📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Adobe Bridge crash logs with memory access violations
- Unexpected child processes spawned from Adobe Bridge
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from Adobe Bridge to unknown IPs
SIEM Query:
source="adobe_bridge" AND (event_type="crash" OR process_name="cmd.exe" OR process_name="powershell.exe")