CVE-2024-53959: Adobe FrameMaker Buffer Overflow Flaw

CVE-2024-53959 Overview

CVE-2024-53959 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe FrameMaker versions 2020.7, 2022.5, and earlier. An attacker who crafts a malicious file can trigger arbitrary code execution in the context of the user running FrameMaker. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening the malicious file. The flaw maps to [CWE-121] (Stack-based Buffer Overflow) and [CWE-787] (Out-of-Bounds Write). Adobe published a security bulletin addressing this issue on the same day the CVE was released to NVD.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution under the current user's privileges, giving an attacker the ability to run code, install software, or access data accessible to that user.

Affected Products

Adobe FrameMaker 2020 (through version 2020.7)
Adobe FrameMaker 2022 (through version 2022.5)
Microsoft Windows platforms running affected FrameMaker builds

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-53959 published to NVD
2024-12-10 - Adobe publishes security bulletin APSB24-106
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-53959

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-53959 is a stack-based buffer overflow in Adobe FrameMaker's file parsing logic. When FrameMaker processes a specially crafted document, unchecked input writes past the bounds of a fixed-size stack buffer. The out-of-bounds write can overwrite adjacent stack data, including saved return addresses and function pointers. An attacker who controls the overwritten values can redirect execution flow into attacker-supplied code. Because FrameMaker runs with the current user's privileges on Windows, code execution inherits those privileges.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds validation on data read from a FrameMaker document during parsing. The vulnerable routine copies input into a stack buffer without verifying the source length against the destination capacity. This condition matches both [CWE-121] and [CWE-787], indicating an out-of-bounds write into a stack allocation.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious FrameMaker file through email, a shared drive, a web download, or another distribution channel. The victim must open the file in an affected FrameMaker version to trigger the overflow. No network exposure is required, and the attacker does not need prior authentication on the target system.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently listed for CVE-2024-53959. Refer to the Adobe FrameMaker Security Advisory (APSB24-106) for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-53959

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by FrameMaker.exe, particularly command interpreters such as cmd.exe or powershell.exe
FrameMaker crashes with exception codes consistent with stack corruption, such as STATUS_STACK_BUFFER_OVERRUN (0xC0000409)
FrameMaker document files (.fm, .mif, .book) arriving from untrusted email senders or external file shares
Outbound network connections initiated by FrameMaker.exe to previously unseen hosts shortly after a document is opened

Detection Strategies

Hunt for process lineage where FrameMaker.exe is the parent of scripting or shell binaries, which is not part of normal document workflows.
Alert on Windows Error Reporting or crash dumps generated by FrameMaker referencing access violations or stack cookie failures.
Correlate email or web gateway telemetry with endpoint file-open events for FrameMaker document types delivered from external sources.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor for module loads inside FrameMaker.exe that originate from user-writable directories such as %TEMP% or %APPDATA%.
Track file creations and executions performed by the FrameMaker process tree after a document open event.
Log and review FrameMaker version inventory across the environment to identify hosts still running 2020.7, 2022.5, or earlier builds.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-53959

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe FrameMaker to the fixed releases listed in Adobe security bulletin APSB24-106 on all Windows systems.
Inventory endpoints for vulnerable FrameMaker builds (2020.7, 2022.5, and earlier) and prioritize patching for users who routinely open external documents.
Instruct users to avoid opening FrameMaker files received from untrusted or unverified sources until patches are applied.

Patch Information

Adobe addresses CVE-2024-53959 in the updates published with Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-106. Administrators should apply the vendor-supplied updates for FrameMaker 2020 and FrameMaker 2022 as documented in the bulletin.

Workarounds

Restrict FrameMaker file handling to trusted document sources through email attachment filtering and web download policies.
Run FrameMaker under standard user accounts rather than administrative accounts to limit the impact of successful exploitation.
Apply application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized child processes from launching under FrameMaker.exe.
Enable Windows exploit protection features such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Control Flow Guard (CFG) for the FrameMaker process where supported.

bash

# Query installed FrameMaker versions on Windows endpoints via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\* |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like '*FrameMaker*' } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher