CVE-2024-53955: Adobe Bridge Integer Underflow RCE Flaw

CVE-2024-53955 Overview

CVE-2024-53955 is an integer underflow vulnerability [CWE-191] affecting Adobe Bridge versions 14.1.3, 15.0, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a crafted malicious file. Exploitation requires local user interaction, limiting remote attack scenarios but enabling social engineering campaigns targeting creative professionals who routinely open third-party asset files.

Adobe published the fix in security advisory APSB24-103 on December 10, 2024. The vulnerability affects Adobe Bridge deployments on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, enabling malware installation, credential theft, and lateral movement from workstations used by design and content teams.

Affected Products

Adobe Bridge 14.1.3 and earlier
Adobe Bridge 15.0 and earlier
Deployments running on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-53955 published to NVD
2024-12-10 - Adobe releases security advisory APSB24-103
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-53955

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as an integer underflow (wrap or wraparound) condition [CWE-191]. Integer underflow occurs when an arithmetic operation produces a value below the minimum representable integer for its data type. The result wraps around to a large positive value, corrupting downstream size calculations and buffer boundary checks.

In Adobe Bridge, this defect surfaces during parsing of a specific file format processed by the application. When a malformed file supplies a length or offset field that triggers subtraction below zero, the wrapped value is treated as a legitimate large size. Subsequent memory operations use this attacker-controlled value, producing out-of-bounds writes that overwrite heap metadata or adjacent objects.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing validation of arithmetic operands before performing subtraction on a size or index value derived from untrusted file content. Without a lower-bound check, an attacker-controlled input drives the calculation past zero, producing memory corruption exploitable for code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious asset file and delivers it through phishing, a shared design repository, or a compromised supply chain. When the victim opens the file in Adobe Bridge, the parser triggers the underflow and executes attacker-supplied code in the user's security context. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-103 for vendor technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-53955

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Bridge (Bridge.exe on Windows, Adobe Bridge on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, or osascript.
Unusual file writes or DLL loads originating from the Bridge process directory after opening a third-party asset file.
Outbound network connections from Adobe Bridge to non-Adobe infrastructure shortly after file open events.

Detection Strategies

Deploy behavioral detections that flag child-process creation and script interpreter execution from Adobe Bridge.
Monitor for crash events involving Adobe Bridge with access violation or heap corruption signatures, which may indicate exploitation attempts.
Correlate file open telemetry with subsequent process, registry, and network activity to identify anomalous execution chains.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable process command-line and image load logging on endpoints running Adobe Bridge.
Ingest endpoint telemetry into a centralized data lake and apply detection rules mapped to MITRE ATT&CK techniques T1204 (User Execution) and T1055 (Process Injection).
Alert on Adobe Bridge processes writing executables or scripts to user-writable directories such as %APPDATA% or ~/Library.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-53955

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe Bridge to the fixed versions listed in advisory APSB24-103 on all Windows and macOS endpoints.
Inventory design and content workstations to identify unpatched Bridge installations, prioritizing users who handle externally sourced assets.
Reinforce user awareness to reject unsolicited asset files and validate sources before opening in Bridge.

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2024-53955 in the December 10, 2024 update cycle. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-103 for the exact fixed version numbers and download links. Apply the update through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround exists; patching is the required remediation path.
Restrict opening of untrusted files in Adobe Bridge until the update is deployed.
Apply application allowlisting to prevent Adobe Bridge from spawning script interpreters or unsigned executables.

bash

# Verify installed Adobe Bridge version on Windows via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Adobe Bridge*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallLocation

# Verify installed Adobe Bridge version on macOS
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe Bridge 2024/Adobe Bridge 2024.app"