CVE-2024-20791: Adobe Illustrator RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-20791 Overview

CVE-2024-20791 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 28.4, 27.9.3, and earlier. The flaw occurs when Illustrator parses a specially crafted file, allowing a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. An attacker can leverage this condition to execute code in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, as the victim must open a malicious file.

Critical Impact
A successful attack allows arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full compromise of the endpoint through a single crafted design file.

Affected Products

Adobe Illustrator 28.4 and earlier (2024 release track)
Adobe Illustrator 27.9.3 and earlier (2023 release track)
Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-16 - CVE-2024-20791 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2024-05-14 - Adobe releases security bulletin APSB24-30 with patched builds
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-20791

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read triggered by Adobe Illustrator's file parsing logic. When Illustrator processes a malformed input file, the parser reads memory beyond the boundary of an allocated buffer. This memory disclosure primitive can be combined with other techniques to achieve arbitrary code execution in the process context.

Because Illustrator runs as an unsandboxed desktop application, code executed through this flaw inherits the privileges of the current user. On a workstation used by a designer or engineer with local administrator rights, this exposure widens to the entire host. The bug is a local attack requiring the victim to open a crafted .ai, .eps, .pdf, or related file handled by Illustrator.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking within a file-parsing routine. Illustrator trusts a size or offset field within the input file without validating it against the allocated buffer length. Parsing then walks past the buffer end, leaking adjacent heap contents or corrupting parser state used for subsequent operations.

Attack Vector

Exploitation follows a classic client-side file-format attack chain. The attacker crafts a malicious Illustrator-compatible file and delivers it through email attachments, shared cloud storage, chat platforms, or a compromised website. When the user opens the file in a vulnerable Illustrator build, the out-of-bounds read fires during parsing, allowing the attacker to influence control flow and execute arbitrary code.

No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2024-20791.
Refer to Adobe advisory APSB24-30 for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-20791

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by Illustrator.exe on Windows or Adobe Illustrator on macOS, particularly shells, scripting engines, or rundll32.exe.
Illustrator process crashes or exception events logged shortly after opening files received from untrusted sources.
Outbound network connections initiated by the Illustrator process to previously unseen domains or IP addresses.
Creation of executables, scripts, or scheduled tasks in user-writable paths immediately following an Illustrator file-open event.

Detection Strategies

Hunt for process-lineage anomalies where Illustrator is the parent of interpreter or living-off-the-land binaries such as powershell.exe, cmd.exe, wscript.exe, or osascript.
Alert on Illustrator writing new PE files, Mach-O binaries, or LaunchAgents to disk, which is uncommon for normal design workflows.
Correlate Illustrator crash telemetry with recent inbound file transfers to identify potential exploitation attempts against unpatched hosts.

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory all endpoints running Adobe Illustrator and cross-reference installed versions against the patched builds in APSB24-30.
Ingest endpoint telemetry into a centralized data lake to enable retroactive hunting for Illustrator-based exploitation across long time windows.
Track email and web-download gateways for .ai, .eps, and related Illustrator file types originating from external senders.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-20791

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Illustrator to the fixed versions identified in Adobe security bulletin APSB24-30 across all Windows and macOS endpoints.
Prioritize patching for users who routinely handle third-party or externally sourced Illustrator files, such as agencies, marketing teams, and contractors.
Communicate to end users that they should not open Illustrator files from untrusted or unverified sources until patching is complete.

Patch Information

Adobe published fixes in the Adobe Security Update Advisory APSB24-30. Users on the 2024 track should upgrade beyond version 28.4, and users on the 2023 track should upgrade beyond version 27.9.3. Deploy the update through the Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling such as the Adobe Admin Console.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of Illustrator files received from external sources until the patch is applied on the endpoint.
Enforce least-privilege on workstations so that a successful compromise via Illustrator does not yield local administrator rights.
Use email and web content filtering to strip or quarantine .ai and .eps attachments from untrusted senders during the remediation window.

bash

# Verify installed Illustrator version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe Illustrator 2024/Adobe Illustrator.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString

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