CVE-2025-30301 Overview
CVE-2025-30301 is a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability [CWE-476] in Adobe Framemaker. The flaw affects Framemaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6, and earlier releases on Microsoft Windows. Exploitation causes an application denial-of-service (DoS) when a victim opens a malicious file. The issue requires local access and user interaction, but it does not lead to code execution or data disclosure. Adobe addressed the vulnerability in Security Bulletin APSB25-33.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation crashes Adobe Framemaker, disrupting document workflows on affected Windows workstations until the application is restarted or patched.
Affected Products
- Adobe Framemaker 2020.8 and earlier 2020.x releases
- Adobe Framemaker 2022.6 and earlier 2022.x releases
- Microsoft Windows platforms running the affected Framemaker builds
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-30301 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-30301
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a NULL pointer dereference [CWE-476] in the Adobe Framemaker file parser. Framemaker fails to validate a pointer before dereferencing it while processing a crafted document. The dereference triggers an access violation, causing the process to terminate. The impact is limited to availability; confidentiality and integrity are not affected. The attack requires the target user to open a malicious file locally, which places this issue in the client-side DoS category rather than a remotely exploitable vector.
Root Cause
Framemaker parses structured document data without confirming that a required object reference is initialized. When the parser encounters a malformed field, it follows a pointer that resolves to a NULL address. The unchecked read causes the Windows process to raise an exception and exit. The pattern is consistent with missing input validation on optional or nested document structures.
Attack Vector
An attacker crafts a malicious Framemaker document and delivers it through email, file share, or web download. The victim opens the file in a vulnerable Framemaker build on Windows. Parsing reaches the malformed structure, the NULL dereference occurs, and Framemaker crashes. No network access, elevated privileges, or authentication is required on the target system. Repeated delivery of the malicious file can produce sustained disruption for authors and publishing workflows.
No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported. Refer to the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-33 for vendor-supplied technical context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-30301
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected termination of FrameMaker.exe shortly after a document open event.
- Windows Application event log entries with faulting module references tied to Framemaker parsing DLLs.
- Delivery of .fm, .book, or .mif files from untrusted external senders that immediately precede the crash.
Detection Strategies
- Correlate Framemaker process crash telemetry with recent file open activity on the same host.
- Alert on Windows Error Reporting (WER) events referencing FrameMaker.exe with access violation exception codes.
- Track email and web gateway logs for inbound Framemaker document types from unverified sources.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable process termination and crash telemetry on endpoints running Adobe Framemaker.
- Ingest Windows Application and Reliability logs into a centralized analytics pipeline for correlation.
- Baseline normal Framemaker file open activity per user to surface repeated crash patterns.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-30301
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Adobe Framemaker to the fixed builds identified in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-33.
- Instruct users not to open Framemaker documents received from untrusted or unverified sources.
- Scan file shares and mailboxes for Framemaker files originating outside expected authoring workflows.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed versions of Framemaker in Security Bulletin APSB25-33. Administrators should deploy the vendor-supplied installer to all Windows systems running Framemaker 2020.8, 2022.6, or earlier. Confirm the installed build after patching to verify remediation.
Workarounds
- Restrict Framemaker use to trusted document sources until patching completes.
- Apply application allowlisting to block Framemaker from opening files from user download directories.
- Configure automatic restart or crash recovery policies to minimize workflow disruption if a crash occurs.
# Verify installed Adobe Framemaker version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\FrameMaker" /s /v "Version"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
