CVE-2024-20755: Adobe Bridge Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-20755 Overview

Adobe Bridge versions 13.0.5, 14.0.1 and earlier contain a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability [CWE-122, CWE-787]. An attacker can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a crafted malicious file in Adobe Bridge.

Adobe published the fix in security bulletin APSB24-15 on March 12, 2024. The vulnerability affects Adobe Bridge on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user running Adobe Bridge, enabling malware installation, data theft, or lateral movement.

Affected Products

Adobe Bridge 13.0.5 and earlier (13.x branch)
Adobe Bridge 14.0.1 and earlier (14.x branch)
Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-03-18 - CVE-2024-20755 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-20755

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-20755 is a heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Bridge's file parsing logic. Adobe Bridge processes numerous media and metadata formats when a user opens a file or previews assets. A crafted file supplies size or length values that the parser does not validate against the allocated heap buffer.

When the parser writes attacker-controlled data past the buffer boundary, adjacent heap metadata and object pointers become corruptible. An attacker who controls this write primitive can hijack control flow and execute arbitrary code as the current user.

The issue is classified under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). The EPSS probability of exploitation sits at 4.369% (90th percentile), reflecting elevated but unconfirmed exploitation interest.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking on length fields parsed from an attacker-supplied file. Adobe Bridge trusts values embedded in the file when determining how many bytes to copy into a heap-allocated buffer. Supplying a length larger than the allocation triggers an out-of-bounds write into the heap.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious file through email, chat, a compromised website, or removable media. The victim must open the file with Adobe Bridge, at which point parsing triggers the overflow.

No network exposure is required, and no privileges beyond the target user are needed. Successful exploitation yields code execution at the privilege level of the interactive user session.

See the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-15 for vendor technical details. No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-20755

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Bridge processes (Bridge.exe on Windows, Adobe Bridge on macOS) spawning command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh
Crash reports or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing Bridge.exe with heap corruption exceptions
Adobe Bridge writing executable files or scripts to user-writable directories immediately after opening a document
Outbound network connections initiated by Adobe Bridge to unfamiliar hosts shortly after file open

Detection Strategies

Monitor for child processes spawned by Adobe Bridge that are inconsistent with normal creative workflows
Alert on Adobe Bridge loading unsigned DLLs or injecting code into other processes
Inspect email and web gateway telemetry for Bridge-associated file types delivered from untrusted sources
Correlate Adobe Bridge crash events with subsequent process creation or persistence activity on the host

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable and forward Sysmon or equivalent process, image load, and file creation events from endpoints running Adobe Bridge
Track installed Adobe Bridge versions across the fleet and flag hosts still running 13.0.5, 14.0.1, or earlier
Retain endpoint telemetry long enough to investigate delayed post-exploitation activity following file-open events

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-20755

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all endpoints running Adobe Bridge and identify versions at or below 13.0.5 and 14.0.1
Deploy the patched versions released in Adobe bulletin APSB24-15 to Windows and macOS endpoints
Instruct users not to open Adobe Bridge files received from untrusted or unexpected sources until patched
Restrict interactive user accounts to least privilege so exploitation does not yield administrative code execution

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds in bulletin APSB24-15. Users on the 13.x branch should update to Adobe Bridge 13.0.6 or later, and users on the 14.x branch should update to 14.0.2 or later. Full details and download links are available in the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-15.

Workarounds

Block or quarantine Adobe Bridge project and asset files originating from external email or web downloads at the mail and web gateways
Remove Adobe Bridge from systems where it is not required for business operations until patching is complete
Enforce application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized child processes launched from Bridge.exe
Require standard (non-administrator) user accounts for daily work involving Adobe Creative Cloud applications

bash

# Verify installed Adobe Bridge version on Windows via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "Adobe Bridge*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallLocation

# Verify installed Adobe Bridge version on macOS
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe Bridge 2024/Adobe Bridge 2024.app"