CVE-2024-45137: Adobe InDesign RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-45137 Overview

CVE-2024-45137 is an Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type vulnerability (CWE-434) affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop. This vulnerability allows attackers to upload malicious files that, when executed, can run arbitrary code in the context of the application. The flaw impacts InDesign Desktop versions 19.4, 18.5.3, and earlier on both Windows and macOS platforms.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the affected system, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data theft, or further lateral movement within an organization's network.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop version 19.4 and earlier
Adobe InDesign Desktop version 18.5.3 and earlier
Affected platforms: Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-10-09 - CVE-2024-45137 published to NVD
2024-10-18 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-45137

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability falls under the Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type category, which occurs when an application allows users to upload files without properly validating the file type, content, or extension. In the context of Adobe InDesign Desktop, this flaw enables attackers to bypass file type restrictions and upload malicious files that can be executed within the application's context.

The vulnerability requires user interaction for successful exploitation, meaning an attacker must convince a victim to open a specially crafted malicious file or interact with a compromised document. Once the malicious file is processed by InDesign, arbitrary code can be executed with the privileges of the current user.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2024-45137 lies in inadequate file type validation within Adobe InDesign Desktop. The application fails to properly restrict and validate uploaded file types, allowing dangerous file formats to be processed. This insufficient input validation on file uploads enables attackers to introduce malicious payloads that bypass intended security controls.

CWE-434 (Unrestricted Upload of File with Dangerous Type) vulnerabilities typically occur when applications trust user-supplied file extensions or MIME types without performing thorough content inspection or implementing proper allowlist-based file type validation.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2024-45137 is local, requiring an attacker to either have local access to the system or convince a user to open a malicious file. A typical attack scenario involves:

An attacker crafts a malicious file designed to exploit the unrestricted upload vulnerability
The attacker delivers the malicious file to the victim through phishing emails, malicious websites, or compromised file shares
The victim opens the malicious file in Adobe InDesign Desktop
The application processes the file without proper validation, executing the embedded malicious code
The attacker gains code execution with the privileges of the user running InDesign

The vulnerability mechanism involves improper file type validation in Adobe InDesign's file handling routines. When a user opens or imports a file, the application should validate both the file extension and content type against a strict allowlist. The failure to implement these controls allows dangerous file types to be processed, enabling arbitrary code execution. For detailed technical information, refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-79.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-45137

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected or suspicious file types being processed by Adobe InDesign Desktop
Unusual child processes spawned from the InDesign.exe or InDesign application process
Anomalous network connections originating from InDesign processes
Suspicious file creations or modifications in user directories following InDesign file operations

Detection Strategies

Monitor for unusual process execution chains where Adobe InDesign spawns unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or script interpreters
Implement file integrity monitoring on InDesign plugin directories and configuration files
Deploy endpoint detection rules that alert on suspicious file operations initiated by InDesign processes
Analyze InDesign document files for embedded scripts or unexpected content structures

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable comprehensive endpoint logging and forward events to a centralized SIEM solution
Configure application whitelisting policies to restrict executable code that can run from InDesign contexts
Implement behavioral analysis for Adobe Creative Cloud applications to detect anomalous activity patterns
Monitor for attempts to download or execute files from untrusted locations through InDesign

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-45137

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe InDesign Desktop to the latest patched version immediately
Educate users about the risks of opening untrusted InDesign files or documents from unknown sources
Implement email filtering to scan and quarantine suspicious InDesign file attachments
Consider restricting InDesign file associations to prevent automatic file opening

Patch Information

Adobe has released security updates addressing this vulnerability as documented in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-79. Organizations should:

Review the security bulletin for specific patch versions
Deploy updates through Adobe Creative Cloud or enterprise deployment tools
Verify patch installation across all affected systems
Prioritize patching for systems handling sensitive documents or with elevated privileges

Workarounds

Implement strict file type filtering at email gateways and web proxies to block suspicious InDesign-related file types
Configure application control policies to restrict InDesign from executing scripts or spawning child processes
Isolate InDesign workstations handling untrusted files in sandboxed environments
Enable Protected View or equivalent sandboxing features if available in the application

For environments where immediate patching is not possible, consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation. Ensure users operate with least-privilege principles to minimize the scope of arbitrary code execution.