CVE-2025-27177 Overview
CVE-2025-27177 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe InDesign Desktop. The flaw affects InDesign versions ID20.1, ID19.5.2, and earlier releases on both Windows and macOS. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The vulnerability requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious InDesign file for the exploit to trigger. Adobe published the fix in security bulletin APSB25-19. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-122] Heap-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write.
Critical Impact
Opening a crafted InDesign document allows arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, enabling malware installation, credential theft, and lateral movement.
Affected Products
- Adobe InDesign Desktop ID20.1 and earlier
- Adobe InDesign Desktop ID19.5.2 and earlier
- Windows and macOS installations of the affected InDesign versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-11 - CVE-2025-27177 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-27177
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow in Adobe InDesign's file parsing logic. When InDesign processes a specially crafted document, the application writes data beyond the bounds of an allocated heap buffer. This out-of-bounds write corrupts adjacent heap structures, including object metadata and function pointers. An attacker who controls the overflow contents can hijack execution flow and run arbitrary code inside the InDesign process. Because InDesign runs with the privileges of the current user, code execution inherits those privileges. The attack vector is local and requires user interaction, consistent with document-based exploitation delivered through email attachments, file sharing, or malicious downloads.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper validation of length or size fields during parsing of untrusted file content. When the parser copies attacker-controlled data into a fixed or miscalculated heap allocation, the write extends past the buffer boundary. Both [CWE-122] and [CWE-787] apply, indicating the write occurs on the heap and outside the intended buffer range. Adobe has not disclosed the specific parser routine or file format element responsible.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires an attacker to deliver a malicious .indd file or associated InDesign asset to the victim. Common delivery paths include phishing emails with document attachments, malicious links to file-sharing services, and compromised design asset repositories. When the victim opens the document in a vulnerable InDesign version, the parser triggers the heap overflow and executes attacker-supplied shellcode. No network exposure or elevated privileges are required for the attacker. See the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory for vendor details.
No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available for CVE-2025-27177 at the time of writing. Technical details of the vulnerable parser have not been published by Adobe or third-party researchers.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27177
Indicators of Compromise
- InDesign process (InDesign.exe on Windows, Adobe InDesign on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters
- Unexpected outbound network connections initiated by the InDesign process shortly after a document is opened
- Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing heap corruption in InDesign modules
- Newly created executables, scripts, or scheduled tasks written to disk by the InDesign process
Detection Strategies
- Monitor for anomalous child process creation from Adobe InDesign binaries using endpoint telemetry
- Alert on InDesign writing executable content to user-writable directories such as %APPDATA%, %TEMP%, or ~/Library/
- Inspect email gateways and file-sharing platforms for .indd, .indt, or .idml attachments from untrusted senders
- Correlate InDesign process crashes with subsequent unusual process or network activity on the same host
Monitoring Recommendations
- Collect and retain process creation, file write, and network connection events from all endpoints running InDesign
- Establish a baseline of normal InDesign child processes and flag deviations for analyst review
- Ingest Adobe application logs and OS-level crash telemetry into a centralized data lake for hunting
- Review authentication and privilege events on hosts where InDesign crashes are observed
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27177
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe InDesign to the fixed versions listed in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-19
- Inventory all workstations running InDesign and prioritize creative and marketing endpoints for patching
- Instruct users to avoid opening InDesign files from unknown or untrusted sources until patching is complete
- Block inbound email attachments with InDesign file extensions at the mail gateway during the patch window
Patch Information
Adobe released updated versions of InDesign that remediate CVE-2025-27177. Refer to Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-19 for the exact fixed build numbers for ID20 and ID19 tracks on Windows and macOS. Apply the updates through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or the enterprise deployment tooling used in your environment.
Workarounds
- Restrict InDesign use to non-privileged user accounts to limit the blast radius of successful exploitation
- Enforce application allowlisting to prevent InDesign from spawning script interpreters and shells
- Use email and web content filtering to quarantine InDesign documents from external senders pending inspection
- Enable OS-level exploit mitigations such as Windows Exploit Protection and macOS Hardened Runtime for the InDesign binary
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
