CVE-2025-24453: Adobe InDesign Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-24453 Overview

CVE-2025-24453 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions ID20.1, ID19.5.2, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious file. Adobe disclosed the issue in security bulletin APSB25-19 on March 11, 2025. The vulnerability maps to [CWE-122] (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and [CWE-787] (Out-of-bounds Write).

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user, potentially leading to full compromise of the workstation.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop ID20.1 and earlier
Adobe InDesign Desktop ID19.5.2 and earlier
Windows and macOS installations of the affected versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-03-11 - CVE-2025-24453 assigned and published to NVD
2025-03-11 - Adobe releases security patch via bulletin APSB25-19
2025-04-28 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-24453

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow within the InDesign file parsing logic. When the application processes a crafted document, it writes data beyond the bounds of an allocated heap buffer. This out-of-bounds write corrupts adjacent heap metadata and application objects.

Attackers can shape the heap layout to place attacker-controlled data near the overflowed buffer. Controlled corruption of function pointers, vtables, or object headers then redirects execution flow. The result is arbitrary code execution under the current user account.

The issue requires local access and user interaction. A victim must open the malicious InDesign file for exploitation to succeed. No elevated privileges are needed to trigger the flaw, but the attacker inherits the privileges of the user opening the file.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of size or length values used during heap buffer allocation and population. The parser fails to enforce bounds checks when reading structured fields from the input document. This permits writes past the allocated region, classified as [CWE-122] and [CWE-787].

Attack Vector

Attackers deliver a weaponized InDesign file via phishing email, shared drives, or compromised websites. The file embeds malformed structures that trigger the overflow on parse. Targeted campaigns against design, publishing, and marketing teams are the most plausible delivery scenarios.

The vulnerability manifests during document parsing in the InDesign desktop client. No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-19 for vendor-confirmed technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-24453

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by InDesign.exe such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or scripting engines
InDesign process crashes followed by suspicious file writes to user-writable paths
Inbound .indd, .indt, or .idml files originating from untrusted external senders
Outbound network connections initiated by the InDesign process to unfamiliar hosts

Detection Strategies

Monitor process creation events where the parent is InDesign and the child is a shell or interpreter
Hunt for memory access violations in Windows Event Logs or macOS crash reports referencing InDesign modules
Inspect email gateways and file shares for InDesign documents with anomalous structure or size
Correlate user-opened document events with subsequent process injection or persistence behavior

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable endpoint telemetry for process lineage, file writes, and network connections from Adobe applications
Forward Adobe application crash telemetry to centralized logging for retrospective hunting
Alert on InDesign making outbound connections or modifying autostart locations
Track version inventory of Adobe InDesign installations to identify unpatched hosts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-24453

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe InDesign to the fixed versions referenced in Adobe APSB25-19
Inventory all Windows and macOS endpoints running InDesign and prioritize patching
Block inbound InDesign file attachments from untrusted senders at the email gateway
Instruct users not to open InDesign documents received from unknown or unverified sources

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2025-24453 in the security update published with bulletin APSB25-19. Users on ID20.1 should upgrade to the patched ID20 release, and users on ID19.5.2 and earlier should upgrade to the patched ID19 release. Patch details are available in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-19.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of InDesign files to documents from verified internal sources until patches are applied
Run InDesign under standard user accounts to limit the impact of code execution
Apply application allowlisting to prevent InDesign from launching unexpected child processes
Use attachment sandboxing to detonate inbound InDesign files before delivery to end users

bash

# Configuration example: verify installed InDesign version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\InDesign" /s | findstr /i "Version"

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