CVE-2024-20739 Overview
CVE-2024-20739 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Audition. The flaw affects Audition versions 24.0.3, 23.6.2, and earlier on both Windows and macOS platforms. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious file crafted by the attacker. Adobe published the fix in security advisory APSB24-11. The vulnerability maps to [CWE-122] Heap-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write.
Critical Impact
Attackers who trick a user into opening a malicious audio project file can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user.
Affected Products
- Adobe Audition 24.0.3 and earlier (release 24.x branch)
- Adobe Audition 23.6.2 and earlier (release 23.x branch)
- Adobe Audition on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-02-15 - CVE-2024-20739 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-20739
Vulnerability Analysis
Adobe Audition mishandles memory allocation when parsing a specially crafted media or project file. The parser writes data past the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer, corrupting adjacent heap metadata or object pointers. An attacker who controls the overflow content can influence program flow and achieve arbitrary code execution in the process. Because Audition runs interactively, code executes under the current user's security context. This class of flaw is common in complex media parsers that handle many container formats and codec structures.
Root Cause
The vulnerability stems from missing or incorrect bounds validation on attacker-controlled length or offset fields inside a parsed file. When the affected code path allocates a heap buffer sized from one field and copies data using another, the copy exceeds the destination size. The condition is tracked under [CWE-122] and [CWE-787]. Adobe has not publicly disclosed the exact file format or code path.
Attack Vector
The attack requires local access and user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious Audition-compatible file through email, a shared drive, or a web download. When the victim opens the file in Audition, the vulnerable parser triggers the overflow. No elevated privileges are required for the attacker, but code runs with the privileges of the user opening the file. The vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog, and no public proof-of-concept has been released.
No verified exploit code is publicly available. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-11 for vendor technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-20739
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by Adobe Audition.exe or Adobe Audition on macOS, particularly command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh.
- Audition process crashes with heap corruption exceptions shortly after opening a file from an untrusted source.
- Audition-associated file types (for example .sesx, .wav, .aif) arriving via email attachments or download from unknown external hosts.
Detection Strategies
- Hunt for Audition process trees that write executables to user-writable paths such as %APPDATA%, %TEMP%, or ~/Library/Application Support.
- Alert on outbound network connections initiated by the Audition process, which is uncommon during normal editing workflows.
- Correlate file-open telemetry with subsequent process injection or memory allocation anomalies inside the Audition process.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable command-line and process-creation logging on endpoints running Adobe Audition.
- Monitor endpoint crash telemetry and Windows Error Reporting or macOS ReportCrash events for repeated Audition faults.
- Track deployed Audition versions against a software inventory to identify hosts still running vulnerable builds.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-20739
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Adobe Audition to a version later than 24.0.3 and 23.6.2 as directed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-11.
- Instruct users not to open Audition project or media files received from untrusted sources until patching is complete.
- Identify all endpoints running vulnerable Audition builds through software asset management or endpoint telemetry.
Patch Information
Adobe addressed CVE-2024-20739 in the updates listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-11. Apply the vendor-provided updates through the Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling. Verify the installed version after patching to confirm the update succeeded.
Workarounds
- Restrict Audition use to files originating from trusted internal sources until patches are applied.
- Apply application allowlisting to prevent Audition from launching untrusted child processes on Windows and macOS endpoints.
- Run Audition under standard user accounts rather than administrator accounts to limit the impact of successful exploitation.
# Configuration example: verify Adobe Audition version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Audition" /s | findstr /i "Version"
# macOS: check installed Audition version
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe Audition 2024/Adobe Audition 2024.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
