CVE-2025-30297: Adobe FrameMaker RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-30297 Overview

CVE-2025-30297 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] in Adobe FrameMaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a maliciously crafted file. Adobe published a security advisory documenting the issue and released fixed versions. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction, limiting remote attack scenarios but raising risk for technical writing teams that routinely process document files from external sources.

Critical Impact
A malicious FrameMaker document can trigger arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user who opens the file, enabling local compromise of Windows workstations.

Affected Products

Adobe FrameMaker 2020.8 and earlier 2020 releases
Adobe FrameMaker 2022.6 and earlier 2022 releases
Microsoft Windows (host platform)

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-30297 published to NVD
2025-04-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-30297

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] in Adobe FrameMaker. FrameMaker parses complex structured documents, and the affected code path writes data past the end of an allocated buffer when processing a crafted file. An attacker controls the data written beyond the buffer boundary, which can corrupt adjacent memory structures such as function pointers, vtables, or heap metadata.

Memory corruption of this type typically leads to arbitrary code execution. The process runs with the privileges of the local user, so successful exploitation grants the attacker the same access to files, registry keys, and network resources as the victim. No privilege escalation is required prior to exploitation, but the attacker must convince the user to open the malicious file.

Exploitation requires local file access and user interaction, which places this vulnerability in the document-borne malware category rather than the remote network attack category.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking on a buffer write inside FrameMaker's document parsing logic. When the parser encounters specific malformed structures or length fields in a crafted document, it writes attacker-controlled bytes past the allocated buffer. Adobe's advisory APSB25-33 confirms the out-of-bounds write classification but does not disclose the specific file format component or function involved.

Attack Vector

An attacker delivers a malicious FrameMaker document through email attachments, shared drives, collaboration platforms, or compromised websites. The victim opens the document in a vulnerable version of FrameMaker on Windows. Parsing triggers the out-of-bounds write, the attacker's shellcode or ROP chain executes, and the attacker gains code execution under the victim's account. The vulnerability does not require network adjacency or prior credentials.

No public proof-of-concept exploit code is available at the time of writing, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Adobe FrameMaker Security Advisory for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30297

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by FrameMaker.exe, particularly command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or wscript.exe.
FrameMaker process crashes or access violation events in the Windows Application event log correlated with opening external .fm, .book, or .mif files.
Outbound network connections originating from FrameMaker.exe to untrusted external hosts immediately after document open.
New executables, scheduled tasks, or persistence entries created shortly after a FrameMaker document is opened.

Detection Strategies

Hunt for process lineage where FrameMaker.exe is the parent of scripting or shell processes, which is anomalous for normal document workflows.
Monitor for FrameMaker writing executable content to user-writable locations such as %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, or %LOCALAPPDATA%.
Apply YARA rules against inbound document attachments to flag structurally malformed FrameMaker files.
Correlate FrameMaker crash telemetry with subsequent endpoint behavioral anomalies on the same host.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows Defender Exploit Guard and Attack Surface Reduction rules that block Office and document applications from spawning child processes, and extend equivalent policies to FrameMaker where supported.
Forward Sysmon process creation, file creation, and image load events from workstations running FrameMaker to a central analytics platform.
Alert on FrameMaker version strings below 2020.9 and 2022.7 across the asset inventory to track patch coverage.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30297

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe FrameMaker to the fixed releases listed in advisory APSB25-33 on all affected Windows endpoints.
Restrict opening of FrameMaker documents received from external or untrusted sources until patching is complete.
Notify documentation and technical writing teams about the threat of malicious .fm, .book, and .mif files arriving by email or shared storage.
Inventory all workstations with FrameMaker installed and prioritize systems handling externally sourced documents.

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2025-30297 in the FrameMaker updates documented in the Adobe FrameMaker Security Advisory APSB25-33. Users of FrameMaker 2020.8 and 2022.6 must install the vendor-supplied updates to remediate the out-of-bounds write. No vendor-supplied configuration toggle disables the vulnerable code path.

Workarounds

Apply the principle of least privilege so FrameMaker users do not run with administrative rights, limiting blast radius if exploitation occurs.
Open suspicious documents only inside isolated virtual machines or Windows Sandbox until the host application is patched.
Use email and web gateway controls to quarantine FrameMaker file types from external senders during the remediation window.

bash

# Example: enumerate FrameMaker installations across Windows endpoints via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*' |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like 'Adobe FrameMaker*' } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallLocation