CVE-2024-39389: Adobe InDesign Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-39389 Overview

CVE-2024-39389 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability [CWE-121] affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop. The flaw impacts InDesign versions ID19.4, ID18.5.2, and earlier releases on both Windows and macOS. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, as a victim must open a malicious InDesign file crafted by the attacker. Adobe published the corresponding security bulletin APSB24-56 and released fixed builds. The vulnerability also maps to [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write, reflecting how the overflow corrupts adjacent stack memory during file parsing.

Critical Impact
Attackers who convince a user to open a malicious InDesign document can execute arbitrary code with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop ID19.4 and earlier
Adobe InDesign Desktop ID18.5.2 and earlier
Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of the affected InDesign versions

Discovery Timeline

2024-08-14 - CVE-2024-39389 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-39389

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow in the InDesign Desktop file parser. When InDesign processes a malformed document, it writes attacker-controlled data past the bounds of a fixed-size stack buffer. The write corrupts adjacent stack memory, including saved return addresses and local variables. An attacker who controls the overflowed data can redirect execution flow and run arbitrary code within the InDesign process. Because InDesign runs with the privileges of the current user, code execution inherits full access to that user's files, credentials, and network resources. The attack vector is local, and the required user interaction reduces the risk of automated mass exploitation.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking during parsing of a specific document structure. InDesign copies data from the input file into a stack buffer without validating that the source length fits the destination. This maps directly to [CWE-121] Stack-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write.

Attack Vector

Exploitation begins with an attacker crafting a malicious InDesign file that contains oversized or malformed fields targeting the vulnerable parser. The attacker delivers the file through phishing email, a compromised website, a shared network drive, or an artifact repository used by design teams. When a victim opens the file in an unpatched InDesign build, the parser triggers the overflow. Consult the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory for technical scope and fixed versions.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39389

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes of InDesign.exe on Windows or Adobe InDesign on macOS, particularly with access violation or segmentation fault signatures during file open
InDesign spawning uncommon child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or /bin/sh shortly after a document is opened
InDesign process making outbound network connections to unfamiliar hosts immediately after document loading
InDesign documents (.indd, .indt, .idml) received from untrusted sources or arriving via email with unusual file sizes

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for process lineage anomalies where InDesign is the parent of scripting or shell interpreters
Alert on Windows Error Reporting or macOS crash reports indicating stack corruption in the InDesign process
Flag execution of unsigned or newly written binaries under user profile directories following an InDesign file open event

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory installed InDesign versions across endpoints and highlight builds at or below ID19.4 and ID18.5.2
Correlate email gateway logs for inbound .indd, .indt, and .idml attachments with subsequent endpoint file-open events
Track outbound connections initiated by InDesign to detect post-exploitation command-and-control traffic

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39389

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe InDesign to the fixed versions listed in APSB24-56 on every Windows and macOS endpoint
Instruct users to avoid opening InDesign files received from untrusted or unverified sources until patching completes
Use application allowlisting to prevent InDesign from launching arbitrary child processes such as shells and scripting engines

Patch Information

Adobe released patched builds addressing CVE-2024-39389 as documented in the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory APSB24-56. Administrators should deploy the fixed InDesign versions through Adobe Creative Cloud or enterprise packaging tools and confirm the installed build number after deployment.

Workarounds

Restrict InDesign to opening files only from vetted network locations and internal repositories
Apply email gateway rules that quarantine InDesign document attachments from external senders pending inspection
Run InDesign under standard user accounts without local administrator rights to limit the blast radius of code execution

bash

# Configuration example: enumerate InDesign versions on Windows endpoints
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*InDesign*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallDate