CVE-2024-41851: Adobe InDesign RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-41851 Overview

CVE-2024-41851 is an integer overflow vulnerability [CWE-190] in Adobe InDesign Desktop that allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The flaw affects InDesign Desktop versions ID19.4, ID18.5.2, and earlier releases on both Windows and macOS. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious InDesign file crafted by an attacker. Adobe addressed the issue in Security Bulletin APSB24-56, published on August 14, 2024.

Critical Impact

A successful exploit lets attackers execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running InDesign, enabling malware installation, data theft, or lateral movement from the compromised workstation.

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 - Adobe publishes Security Bulletin APSB24-56 with the patch
• 2024-08-14 - CVE-2024-41851 published to NVD
• 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-41851

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as an Integer Overflow or Wraparound [CWE-190] in Adobe InDesign's file parsing logic. Integer overflows occur when arithmetic operations produce values that exceed the storage capacity of the target integer type. The result wraps around to an unexpected value, typically much smaller than intended. In InDesign, this miscalculation is triggered while processing attacker-controlled fields inside a crafted document file.

When the overflowed value is subsequently used to size a memory allocation or index a buffer, the parser writes past intended bounds. This corrupts adjacent heap structures and can be shaped by the attacker into a controlled write primitive. The corrupted memory ultimately redirects execution flow, resulting in arbitrary code execution under the current user account.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient validation of size or length fields read from a document file before they are used in arithmetic operations. Missing bounds checks or unchecked multiplications allow crafted values to wrap around and produce undersized allocations that are later filled with attacker-controlled data.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker distributes a malicious InDesign document through email, file-sharing platforms, or web downloads. When the victim opens the file with a vulnerable version of InDesign, the parser triggers the integer overflow and executes attacker-supplied code with the victim's privileges. No network exposure or elevated privileges are required on the target host.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is currently available for CVE-2024-41851. See the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-56 for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-41851

Indicators of Compromise

• InDesign document files (.indd, .indt, .idml) received from untrusted sources or arriving via phishing email
• InDesign processes spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters on macOS
• Unusual outbound network connections initiated by InDesign.exe shortly after opening a document
• Crash reports or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing InDesign heap corruption or access violations

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for process lineage where InDesign.exe is the parent of scripting or living-off-the-land binaries
• Alert on file write operations by InDesign into autorun, startup, or scheduled task locations
• Inspect email and web gateway telemetry for InDesign document attachments from external senders
• Correlate InDesign crashes with subsequent suspicious process or network activity on the same host

Monitoring Recommendations

• Deploy endpoint detection and response coverage on all workstations running Adobe Creative Cloud applications
• Enable and centralize application crash telemetry from Windows and macOS creative endpoints
• Track installed InDesign versions across the fleet and flag hosts still running ID19.4, ID18.5.2, or earlier

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-41851

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Adobe InDesign to the versions listed in Security Bulletin APSB24-56 on both Windows and macOS endpoints
• Instruct users not to open InDesign documents from unverified email senders or untrusted external sources
• Inventory installations via Adobe Creative Cloud administration consoles and prioritize creative teams for patching

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed versions of InDesign Desktop on August 14, 2024. Administrators should apply the updates identified in the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-56, which covers CVE-2024-41851 along with additional issues addressed in the same release. Creative Cloud desktop clients configured for automatic updates will retrieve the fixed builds; managed environments should push the update through their software distribution tooling.

Workarounds

• Restrict InDesign document handling to trusted internal file shares until patching is complete
• Apply application allowlisting policies that block InDesign from launching child processes such as command shells
• Use email gateway rules to quarantine InDesign attachments from external senders pending user justification

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

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