CVE-2024-45139: Adobe Substance 3D Stager Buffer Overflow

CVE-2024-45139 Overview

CVE-2024-45139 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Substance 3D Stager versions 3.0.3 and earlier. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The flaw requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious file crafted by an attacker.

The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). Adobe published a fix in security bulletin APSB24-81.

Critical Impact
Attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution on Windows and macOS workstations by delivering a malicious project file to a Substance 3D Stager user.

Affected Products

Adobe Substance 3D Stager versions 3.0.3 and earlier
Microsoft Windows installations of Substance 3D Stager
Apple macOS installations of Substance 3D Stager

Discovery Timeline

2024-10-09 - CVE-2024-45139 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-45139

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-45139 is a heap-based buffer overflow in the file-parsing logic of Adobe Substance 3D Stager. When the application processes a malformed input file, it writes data beyond the bounds of an allocated heap buffer. This out-of-bounds write can corrupt adjacent heap metadata or object pointers used later in the process.

An attacker who controls the size and content of the overflowing data can steer execution to attacker-supplied instructions. Because the process runs with the privileges of the logged-in user, the resulting code execution inherits those privileges. Substance 3D Stager is a 3D staging and rendering application, so project and asset files are routinely exchanged between artists and pipelines, providing a plausible delivery channel.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds validation when Substance 3D Stager parses structured data from a file into a heap-allocated buffer. Fields controlling copy length or element counts are trusted from the untrusted file, allowing writes past the allocation. Adobe has not published detailed root-cause internals beyond the classification as [CWE-122] and [CWE-787].

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local user interaction. The attacker delivers a malicious Substance 3D project or asset file through email, messaging, a shared drive, or a compromised asset repository. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of Substance 3D Stager, the parser triggers the heap overflow and executes attacker-controlled code.

No verified public proof-of-concept or exploit is available for CVE-2024-45139, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Adobe Security Update APSB24-81 advisory for vendor-supplied details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-45139

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by Adobe Substance 3D Stager.exe on Windows or the Stager binary on macOS, especially command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh.
Substance 3D Stager processes performing outbound network connections to previously unseen domains or IP addresses shortly after opening a file.
Crash reports or application-error events referencing heap corruption or access violations in the Substance 3D Stager process.

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for process-lineage anomalies where Substance 3D Stager launches shells, scripting hosts, or LOLBins.
Correlate file-open events for Substance 3D project files with subsequent process, file, and network activity from the Stager process.
Alert on module loads or in-memory allocations with RWX permissions inside the Stager process, which are indicative of shellcode staging.

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory installed versions of Adobe Substance 3D Stager across creative and engineering endpoints and flag any instance at or below 3.0.3.
Log downloads and shares of Substance 3D file formats from external sources and route them through malware scanning before user access.
Track application crash telemetry for Substance 3D Stager as a leading indicator of exploitation attempts against unpatched hosts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-45139

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe Substance 3D Stager to the fixed version identified in APSB24-81 on all Windows and macOS endpoints.
Identify users who work with externally sourced 3D assets and prioritize their workstations for patching.
Instruct users not to open Substance 3D project files received from untrusted sources until the patch is applied.

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2024-45139 in security bulletin APSB24-81, released for Substance 3D Stager on Windows and macOS. Apply the vendor-provided update through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or the enterprise deployment channel used in your environment.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of Substance 3D file formats to files originating from trusted, internal asset repositories.
Run Substance 3D Stager under a standard user account rather than an administrator to limit the blast radius of code execution.
Apply application-allowlisting or attack-surface-reduction policies that block Substance 3D Stager from spawning shells and scripting engines.

bash

# Example: enumerate installed Substance 3D Stager version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Substance 3D Stager" /s /v Version

# Example: enumerate installed Substance 3D Stager version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe Substance 3D Stager/Adobe Substance 3D Stager.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString