CVE-2024-52994: Adobe Substance 3D Sampler RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-52994 Overview

Adobe Substance 3D Sampler versions 4.5.1 and earlier contain an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] that can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious file crafted by an attacker. The flaw affects local users of the 3D material authoring application and does not require authentication or elevated privileges to trigger. Adobe published fixes in security bulletin APSB24-100 on December 10, 2024.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user opening the malicious asset file, enabling installation of malware or persistence on the workstation.

Affected Products

Adobe Substance 3D Sampler 4.5.1
Adobe Substance 3D Sampler prior versions (all releases up to and including 4.5.1)
Windows and macOS installations of Substance 3D Sampler

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-52994 published to NVD alongside Adobe bulletin APSB24-100
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-52994

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write in Adobe Substance 3D Sampler, a texture and material authoring tool used in visual effects, gaming, and industrial design workflows. When Sampler parses a crafted asset or scene file, it writes data outside the bounds of an allocated buffer. This memory corruption can be steered to overwrite adjacent structures such as function pointers, virtual table pointers, or control-flow metadata, giving an attacker a path to arbitrary code execution.

The attack path is local and file-based. An attacker delivers a weaponized project or texture file through email, chat, a shared asset library, or a compromised marketplace. When the artist opens the file in Sampler, the parser mishandles the input and corrupts memory. Because exploitation runs code as the interactive user, adversaries inherit access to source assets, credentials in the user profile, and any network shares the user can reach.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation during parsing of untrusted file content. Length or offset fields inside the file are trusted without verifying that the resulting write stays within the destination buffer, matching the pattern described by CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is local and requires user interaction. The attacker cannot reach the vulnerable parser over the network. Instead, the victim must open a malicious file in Substance 3D Sampler, typically delivered through social engineering targeting 3D artists, technical directors, or asset pipeline engineers. No prior authentication to the target host is required.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is listed for this issue, and it is not present on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-100 for the authoritative technical scope.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-52994

Indicators of Compromise

Substance 3D Sampler (Adobe Substance 3D Sampler.exe) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe.
Crashes or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing Adobe Substance 3D Sampler.exe shortly after opening a project, .sbsar, or texture file.
Substance 3D Sampler making outbound network connections to untrusted hosts immediately after a file open event.
New files written to %APPDATA%, %TEMP%, or user autorun locations by the Sampler process.

Detection Strategies

Alert on parent-child process anomalies where Sampler launches shells, scripting engines, or LOLBins.
Detect execution of files from user download and email attachment directories immediately followed by Sampler process activity.
Correlate Sampler crash telemetry with subsequent process creation or file write activity on the same host.

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory endpoints running Substance 3D Sampler and track installed versions against the fixed release.
Ingest endpoint process, file, and network telemetry into a central analytics platform to enable retroactive hunting for anomalous Sampler behavior.
Monitor asset-sharing channels (cloud storage, chat, email gateways) for delivery of Substance file types from untrusted senders.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-52994

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe Substance 3D Sampler to the version identified as fixed in Adobe bulletin APSB24-100.
Instruct 3D artists and pipeline engineers to open only Substance files from trusted sources and verified project repositories.
Restrict local administrator rights on creative workstations so that any code execution runs in a limited user context.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds of Substance 3D Sampler in security bulletin APSB24-100 on December 10, 2024. Any release at or before version 4.5.1 is vulnerable and must be upgraded to the patched version specified by Adobe. Apply the update through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or the enterprise deployment tooling used in your environment.

Workarounds

Block or quarantine incoming Substance project and archive files (for example .sbs, .sbsar) from untrusted senders at the email and web gateway until patching is complete.
Segment creative workstations from sensitive corporate networks so that a compromised artist endpoint cannot pivot to production systems.
Enable application allowlisting and OS exploit mitigations (DEP, ASLR, CFG) on hosts running Substance 3D Sampler.

bash

# Example: query installed Substance 3D Sampler version on Windows via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Substance 3D Sampler*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher