CVE-2026-48291: Format Plugins | Heap-based Buffer Overflow (CWE-122)

Synopsis

Heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Format Plugins (versions 1.1.2 and earlier) is triggered locally when a victim opens a malicious file. No network access is needed to reach the vulnerable code; the attack path relies on social engineering to get a user to open a crafted document or media file. Successful exploitation gives an attacker full code execution running as the current user, enabling them to read, write, or destroy anything that user can access. HarborGuard is tracking the advisory for patch availability and will make a patched-image rebuild available the moment Adobe publishes a fix.

HarborGuard Coverage

Exploit Conditions

• Network reachabilityNot required

  The attacker needs an existing shell or process on the host; no network-facing service is required to trigger the vulnerability.

• AuthenticationNot required

  No account or credentials are required; the attacker only needs a way to deliver a malicious file to the victim.

• Victim interactionRequired

  A victim must be socially engineered into opening a crafted file, making user interaction a necessary precondition for exploitation.

• Attack complexityDetail

  Attack complexity is low, meaning the exploit is reliable and does not depend on race conditions, specific memory layouts, or other variable environmental factors.

Blast Radius

• Executes arbitrary code in the context of the logged-in user, giving the attacker full control over that user session.
• Reads any files, credentials, or secrets the current user can access, including application tokens and local configuration.
• Writes or overwrites files owned by the current user, enabling persistence mechanisms such as planted binaries or modified startup scripts.
• Crashes or corrupts the affected application process, causing service disruption for the current user session.