CVE-2024-52996: Adobe Substance 3D Sampler RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-52996 Overview

CVE-2024-52996 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Substance 3D Sampler versions 4.5.1 and earlier. The flaw 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 the attacker. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-122] (heap-based buffer overflow) and [CWE-787] (out-of-bounds write). Adobe published fixes in security advisory APSB24-100.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the logged-in user, enabling malware deployment, data theft, or lateral movement from an artist workstation.

Affected Products

Adobe Substance 3D Sampler 4.5.1
Adobe Substance 3D Sampler prior to 4.5.1
Windows and macOS installations of Substance 3D Sampler

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-52996 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-52996

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-52996 is a heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe Substance 3D Sampler, a texturing application used in 3D content creation pipelines. The application parses a variety of image, material, and scene file formats. When it processes a malformed input file, code paths in the parser write beyond the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer. This out-of-bounds write corrupts adjacent heap metadata or object pointers, enabling attacker-controlled memory manipulation.

Exploitation requires local access in the sense that the target file must be opened by the user. Delivery vectors include email attachments, cloud asset libraries, and third-party material marketplaces used by artists.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of length or offset fields during parsing of untrusted file content. The parser trusts size values inside the file and copies data into a fixed or undersized heap buffer without bounds checks. Adobe's advisory APSB24-100 documents the flaw but does not disclose the affected file format or parsing function.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a malicious asset file that triggers the overflow during import or preview. The attacker distributes the file through channels artists typically trust, such as shared project folders, asset packs, or messaging. When the victim opens the file in Substance 3D Sampler, heap corruption occurs and can be steered toward arbitrary code execution as the current user. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-100 for vendor details.

No public proof-of-concept is available at the time of writing, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-52996

Indicators of Compromise

Substance 3D Sampler (Adobe Substance 3D Sampler.exe) crashes or unexpected restarts shortly after opening a third-party asset file.
Child processes spawned by Substance 3D Sampler that are not part of normal application behavior, such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or scripting hosts.
Outbound network connections initiated by the Sampler process to unfamiliar hosts immediately after file open.
New persistence artifacts (Run keys, scheduled tasks, LaunchAgents) created in the user context shortly after opening 3D asset files.

Detection Strategies

Alert on process ancestry chains where Substance 3D Sampler is the parent of a shell, script interpreter, or LOLBin.
Hunt for Substance 3D Sampler crashes in Windows Application event logs (Event ID 1000) and macOS crash reports tied to heap corruption faults.
Inspect file-open telemetry for Substance 3D Sampler processing files from untrusted locations such as browser download folders or email attachment paths.

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory endpoints running Substance 3D Sampler versions 4.5.1 and earlier through software asset management.
Capture EDR telemetry for module loads, memory allocations, and network activity from the Sampler process.
Forward endpoint logs to a centralized analytics platform to correlate file-open events with post-exploitation behavior.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-52996

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe Substance 3D Sampler to the fixed version listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-100.
Restrict opening of Substance 3D asset files (.sbs, .sbsar, and related formats) to files from trusted sources.
Instruct 3D artists and content teams not to open unsolicited project or material files received by email or messaging.

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2024-52996 in the update referenced by advisory APSB24-100. Install the patched release on all Windows and macOS workstations running Substance 3D Sampler. Verify the installed version through the application's About dialog after upgrade. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-100 for exact version numbers and download links.

Workarounds

Run Substance 3D Sampler under a standard user account without local administrator rights to limit post-exploitation impact.
Enforce application allowlisting to block unauthorized child processes from launching under the Sampler process.
Store shared 3D assets in scanned, controlled repositories rather than allowing direct downloads from external sources.

bash

# Windows: verify installed Substance 3D Sampler version
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall" /s /f "Substance 3D Sampler"

# macOS: verify installed Substance 3D Sampler version
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe Substance 3D Sampler/Adobe Substance 3D Sampler.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString