CVE-2024-49508: Adobe InDesign Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-49508 Overview

CVE-2024-49508 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe InDesign Desktop affecting versions ID18.5.2, ID19.5, and earlier. An attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user by convincing a victim to open a crafted InDesign file. The flaw is categorized under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write). Exploitation requires user interaction but no privileges, making it a viable vector for targeted phishing campaigns against design and publishing environments running InDesign on Windows or macOS.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially enabling malware installation, credential theft, or lateral movement from creative workstations.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop ID18.5.2 and earlier
Adobe InDesign Desktop ID19.5 and earlier
Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-11-12 - CVE-2024-49508 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-49508

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow triggered when Adobe InDesign parses a maliciously crafted document file. When the application processes attacker-controlled structures within the file, it writes data past the bounds of an allocated heap buffer. This out-of-bounds write can corrupt adjacent heap metadata or overwrite function pointers and object vtables used later in execution.

An attacker who controls the overwritten memory can redirect execution to shellcode or perform return-oriented programming to bypass mitigations such as Data Execution Prevention. Because InDesign runs in the current user's session, executed code inherits the user's file, network, and application access rights.

Root Cause

The defect stems from missing or insufficient bounds checking during parsing of a specific file structure inside InDesign documents. When the parser reads a size field or count that is not validated against the destination buffer capacity, subsequent copy or write operations exceed the allocation. This aligns with the paired classification of CWE-122 and CWE-787 assigned to this issue.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a weaponized .indd or related InDesign file through email, a shared drive, a design collaboration platform, or a compromised website. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable InDesign build, the malformed structure triggers the overflow and executes attacker-supplied code. No network exposure of InDesign is required, and no elevated privileges are needed by the attacker prior to exploitation.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available at this time, and Adobe has not reported exploitation in the wild. Technical specifics beyond the vendor advisory have not been disclosed. See the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory APSB24-88 for vendor guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49508

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by InDesign.exe on Windows or the Adobe InDesign process on macOS, particularly shells, script interpreters, or rundll32.exe.
InDesign process crashes or heap corruption exceptions logged near the time of opening a document from an untrusted source.
InDesign documents arriving from external senders, cloud storage links, or unusual file-sharing services immediately before anomalous endpoint activity.

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for InDesign process anomalies including memory access violations, unusual module loads, and outbound network connections from the InDesign process.
Apply behavioral detection rules that flag productivity or design applications executing scripting engines, LOLBins, or performing process injection.
Correlate email and web gateway logs with endpoint file-open events to identify inbound InDesign files that immediately precede suspicious host behavior.

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory installed versions of Adobe InDesign across Windows and macOS fleets and alert on hosts still running ID18.5.2, ID19.5, or earlier builds.
Log file-open events for .indd, .idml, and related InDesign extensions delivered from external sources.
Track crash telemetry from Adobe applications and forward it to a central log platform for correlation with security events.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49508

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe InDesign to the fixed versions listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-88 on all Windows and macOS endpoints.
Instruct users to avoid opening InDesign files received from untrusted or unexpected sources until patching is complete.
Verify that Adobe Creative Cloud auto-update is enabled and functioning on managed workstations.

Patch Information

Adobe published fixes in security bulletin APSB24-88. Administrators should deploy the patched InDesign builds through Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Admin Console, or enterprise software distribution tooling. Confirm the installed version after deployment to ensure the vulnerable release has been replaced.

Workarounds

Restrict InDesign file handling to trusted internal repositories and block delivery of .indd attachments from external email where feasible.
Enforce least-privilege user accounts so that any successful exploitation inherits limited local rights.
Enable operating system exploit mitigations such as ASLR, DEP, and macOS Hardened Runtime for Adobe applications where configurable.

bash

# Windows: check installed Adobe InDesign version
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /f "Adobe InDesign"

# macOS: check installed Adobe InDesign version
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2024/Adobe InDesign 2024.app"