CVE-2024-49507: Adobe InDesign Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-49507 Overview

CVE-2024-49507 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe InDesign Desktop. The flaw affects InDesign versions ID18.5.2, ID19.5, and earlier on both Windows and macOS. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The issue is classified under [CWE-122] Heap-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-Bounds Write. Exploitation requires user interaction: the victim must open a malicious InDesign file. Adobe published the fix in security bulletin APSB24-88 on November 12, 2024.

Critical Impact
An attacker can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user by convincing a victim to open a crafted InDesign document.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop ID18.5.2 and earlier
Adobe InDesign Desktop ID19.5 and earlier
Windows and macOS installations of Adobe InDesign

Discovery Timeline

2024-11-12 - CVE-2024-49507 published to NVD and Adobe releases security bulletin APSB24-88
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-49507

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-49507 is a heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe InDesign Desktop. The vulnerability occurs when InDesign parses a specially crafted document file. During parsing, the application writes data past the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer, corrupting adjacent memory structures.

The attack surface centers on InDesign's file parsers, which process complex document formats containing embedded objects, fonts, and layout metadata. Attackers craft malicious files that supply oversized or malformed fields to trigger the overflow. Because InDesign runs with the current user's privileges, successful exploitation grants the attacker equivalent access to files, credentials, and network resources available to that user.

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. A victim must open the malicious file, typically delivered via phishing email, shared cloud storage, or a compromised project file.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of input data during heap buffer allocation and write operations. The parser fails to verify that data written to a heap region stays within allocated bounds, producing an out-of-bounds write ([CWE-787]) on the heap ([CWE-122]). Attackers use the corruption to overwrite function pointers, virtual tables, or heap metadata to redirect execution.

Attack Vector

Exploitation follows a standard client-side document attack pattern. The attacker distributes a malicious .indd or related InDesign asset to a target. When the victim opens the file, the vulnerable parser processes attacker-controlled data and triggers the heap overflow. The attacker gains code execution without additional privileges, since PR:N and only user interaction (UI:R) are required.

The vulnerability does not require network access to the victim's machine; delivery mechanisms such as email attachments and file-sharing platforms are sufficient.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49507

Indicators of Compromise

InDesign process (InDesign.exe on Windows or Adobe InDesign on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters.
Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing heap corruption in InDesign modules immediately after opening a document.
Unusual outbound network connections initiated by the InDesign process shortly after file open.
Newly written executables, scripts, or scheduled tasks created by the InDesign process context.

Detection Strategies

Monitor for anomalous child processes launched by InDesign, a strong signal of successful exploitation of a document-parsing flaw.
Alert on InDesign writing files to autorun locations, startup folders, or LaunchAgents/LaunchDaemons directories on macOS.
Correlate document open events with subsequent process crashes and file-write activity to identify exploitation attempts.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest endpoint process and file telemetry from creative workstations into a central SIEM or data lake for retrospective hunting.
Track InDesign version inventory across the fleet and flag hosts running ID18.5.2, ID19.5, or earlier builds.
Monitor email and file-sharing gateways for InDesign attachments arriving from external senders and review sandbox verdicts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49507

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe InDesign to the versions listed in Adobe bulletin APSB24-88 on all Windows and macOS endpoints.
Inventory InDesign installations and prioritize patching for users who routinely open externally sourced document files.
Instruct users to avoid opening InDesign files received from untrusted or unverified senders until patching is complete.
Enable application allowlisting or attack surface reduction rules that restrict child process creation by Office and creative applications.

Patch Information

Adobe published the fix in the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory APSB24-88. Administrators should apply the fixed InDesign builds through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling. Verify the installed version matches or exceeds the fixed release documented in the bulletin.

Workarounds

Restrict InDesign to opening files only from trusted, internally controlled repositories until patching is complete.
Use email gateway rules to quarantine InDesign document attachments from external senders for sandbox analysis.
Run InDesign under standard (non-administrator) user accounts to limit the impact of code execution.

bash

# Configuration example: identify hosts running vulnerable InDesign versions
# Windows PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "Adobe InDesign*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallDate

# macOS shell
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2024/Adobe InDesign 2024.app"