How severe is CVE-2021-28597?

CVE-2021-28597 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability none.

Is CVE-2021-28597 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-28597?

CVE-2021-28597 affects Adobe Photoshop Elements. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-28597?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.

When was CVE-2021-28597 published?

CVE-2021-28597 was published on 2021-06-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-28597

CVE-2021-28597 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Adobe Photoshop Elements with a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-668.

Key facts

Severity: Medium (CVSS 3.x base score 5.5)
CVSS v2: 2.1
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (38th percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-668
Affected product: Adobe Photoshop Elements
Published: 2021-06-28
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

Adobe Photoshop Elements version 5.2 (and earlier) is affected by an insecure temporary file creation vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to call functions against the installer to perform high privileged actions. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-28597?: Adobe Photoshop Elements version 5.2 (and earlier) is affected by an insecure temporary file creation vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to call functions against the installer to perform high privileged actions. Exploitation of this issue does not require user interaction.
How severe is CVE-2021-28597?: CVE-2021-28597 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 5.5, rated medium severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and no user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is none, integrity high, and availability none.
Is CVE-2021-28597 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (38th percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-28597?: CVE-2021-28597 affects Adobe Photoshop Elements. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-28597?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround.
When was CVE-2021-28597 published?: CVE-2021-28597 was published on 2021-06-28 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/photoshop_elements/apsb21-46.html

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:adobe:photoshop_elements:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*

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