CVE-2025-47098: Adobe InCopy RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-47098 Overview

CVE-2025-47098 is an Access of Uninitialized Pointer vulnerability [CWE-824] affecting Adobe InCopy versions 20.3, 19.5.3, and earlier. Attackers who successfully exploit this flaw can achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction: the victim must open a malicious InCopy file delivered through phishing, file shares, or other distribution channels. The vulnerability affects both macOS and Windows installations of InCopy and was disclosed by Adobe in security bulletin APSB25-59.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user running InCopy, enabling malware installation, data theft, or lateral movement on the host.

Affected Products

Adobe InCopy 20.3 and earlier (20.x branch)
Adobe InCopy 19.5.3 and earlier (19.x branch)
Adobe InCopy on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-47098 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-07-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-47098

Vulnerability Analysis

The flaw is categorized under [CWE-824] Access of Uninitialized Pointer. Adobe InCopy parses complex document formats containing embedded objects, references, and structured data. When the parser processes a crafted file, it dereferences a pointer that was never properly initialized.

Because the pointer value reflects whatever data resided in that memory location, an attacker who shapes the surrounding allocation pattern can steer the dereference toward attacker-controlled memory. The result is an arbitrary read, write, or indirect call primitive depending on how the uninitialized pointer is used downstream.

The Exploit Prediction Scoring System (EPSS) currently rates the probability of exploitation as low, and no public proof-of-concept code or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported.

Root Cause

The root cause is a code path inside InCopy that allocates a structure containing a pointer field but fails to assign a valid value before that field is read. A maliciously crafted document triggers the vulnerable branch, causing the application to operate on garbage memory as if it were a valid object reference. This pattern frequently produces type confusion or wild-pointer dereferences during object processing.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious InCopy document and delivers it through email attachments, instant messaging, cloud document sharing, or compromised websites. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of InCopy, the parser triggers the uninitialized pointer access. Code then executes with the privileges of the logged-on user, which on workstations is often a standard or administrative account capable of installing persistence mechanisms.

No verified exploit code is publicly available. Refer to the Adobe InCopy Security Advisory APSB25-59 for vendor technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-47098

Indicators of Compromise

InCopy process (InCopy.exe on Windows, Adobe InCopy on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or shell binaries
Unusual file writes from the InCopy process into user profile, startup, or temp directories shortly after a document is opened
Inbound .icml, .indd, or related Adobe document files arriving from untrusted email senders or external file shares
Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting events referencing access violations inside InCopy modules

Detection Strategies

Hunt for process-lineage anomalies where InCopy is the parent of scripting interpreters or LOLBins
Correlate document-open events with network connections initiated by the InCopy process to non-Adobe destinations
Alert on InCopy loading non-standard DLLs or writing executable content under %APPDATA% or ~/Library

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward endpoint process creation, file write, and module load telemetry to a centralized analytics platform for retrospective hunting
Monitor Adobe application versions across the fleet to identify hosts still running InCopy 20.3, 19.5.3, or earlier
Track email and web gateways for delivery of Adobe document formats from external senders and quarantine for sandbox detonation

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-47098

Immediate Actions Required

Inventory all endpoints with Adobe InCopy installed and identify versions at or below 20.3 and 19.5.3
Apply the Adobe security updates referenced in APSB25-59 to all affected hosts
Instruct users to avoid opening InCopy documents received from untrusted sources until patches are deployed
Restrict execution of InCopy under elevated accounts to limit blast radius if exploitation occurs

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds of InCopy alongside the APSB25-59 advisory on July 8, 2025. Administrators should upgrade to the latest versions published by Adobe for both the 19.x and 20.x branches. Deployment can be performed through Adobe Creative Cloud, Adobe Admin Console managed packages, or enterprise software distribution tools. Validate patch installation by checking the version number in Help > About InCopy.

Workarounds

Block delivery of Adobe document attachments from external email senders at the mail gateway until patching is complete
Run InCopy under a standard (non-administrative) user account to reduce post-exploitation impact
Use application allowlisting to prevent InCopy from spawning interpreters and shell binaries

bash

# Verify installed InCopy version on Windows via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*InCopy*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion

# Verify installed InCopy version on macOS
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe InCopy 2024/Adobe InCopy 2024.app"