CVE-2025-47107: Adobe InCopy Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-47107 Overview

CVE-2025-47107 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Adobe InCopy versions 20.2, 19.5.3, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious file. Adobe published the vulnerability on June 10, 2025, and it carries a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8. The weakness is classified under [CWE-122] (Heap-based Buffer Overflow). Exploitation requires user interaction, limiting remote mass-exploitation scenarios, but the local attack vector remains viable through social engineering and supply chain delivery of weaponized documents.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants attackers arbitrary code execution at the privilege level of the user running InCopy, enabling malware installation, credential theft, and lateral movement.

Affected Products

Adobe InCopy version 20.2 and earlier (2025 release)
Adobe InCopy version 19.5.3 and earlier (2024 release)
Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of the affected versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-06-10 - CVE-2025-47107 published to NVD alongside Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-41
2025-07-15 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-47107

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow [CWE-122] in Adobe InCopy, a professional writing and editing application that integrates with Adobe InDesign workflows. The flaw resides in how InCopy parses structured content within document files. When the application processes malformed data fields, it writes beyond the boundaries of an allocated heap buffer.

Attackers can craft a document that triggers the overflow during open or import operations. The overwrite can corrupt adjacent heap metadata or function pointers, redirecting execution flow to attacker-controlled shellcode. Because InCopy runs in the user's security context, successful exploitation yields the same privileges as the logged-in user.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds checking on a length or size value read from the input file. InCopy allocates a heap buffer based on a calculated or trusted size, then copies file-supplied data into that buffer without re-validating the boundary. Crafted input causes the copy operation to extend past the allocation, corrupting heap structures the allocator uses for subsequent operations.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious InCopy-compatible file through email attachments, file-sharing platforms, or compromised editorial workflows. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of InCopy, the parser triggers the heap overflow and executes the attacker's payload. No elevated privileges or prior authentication are required on the target system. The vulnerability mechanics are documented in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-41.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-47107

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by InCopy.exe such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe
Crashes or unexpected termination of InCopy when opening .icml, .icma, or .indd-related files from untrusted sources
Outbound network connections initiated by the InCopy process to unfamiliar hosts shortly after a document is opened
New executable or script files written to user-writable paths immediately after InCopy launches a document

Detection Strategies

Monitor process creation events where the parent process is InCopy and the child is a shell, scripting host, or LOLBin
Alert on memory access violations and exception events recorded against InCopy.exe in Windows Event Logs or macOS crash reports
Inspect email gateways and file-sharing platforms for InCopy file types arriving from external senders
Apply YARA rules to scan inbound documents for malformed structural fields associated with heap-overflow triggers

Monitoring Recommendations

Forward endpoint telemetry on Adobe application behavior to a centralized analytics platform for cross-host correlation
Track InCopy version inventory across endpoints to identify hosts still running 20.2, 19.5.3, or earlier
Establish baselines of normal InCopy network and file activity to surface deviations indicative of post-exploitation behavior

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-47107

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe security update referenced in APSB25-41 to all InCopy installations on Windows and macOS
Inventory endpoints running InCopy 20.2, 19.5.3, or earlier and prioritize patching for users handling externally sourced documents
Instruct editorial and production staff to avoid opening InCopy files received from untrusted or unverified sources
Block delivery of InCopy file attachments from external senders at the email gateway until patching completes

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed versions of InCopy addressing CVE-2025-47107. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-41 for the specific patched version numbers and download links for both Windows and macOS platforms. Updates are distributed through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application.

Workarounds

Restrict InCopy usage to documents sourced from internal, trusted editorial systems until patches are deployed
Run InCopy under a standard user account without local administrator rights to limit post-exploitation impact
Enable operating system exploit mitigations such as Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) for the InCopy process

bash

# Verify installed InCopy version on macOS
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe InCopy 2025/Adobe InCopy 2025.app"

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