CVE-2025-47129: Adobe Framemaker RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-47129 Overview

CVE-2025-47129 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Adobe FrameMaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6, and earlier. An attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user by crafting a malicious document. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open the malicious file in FrameMaker. Adobe published the fix in security advisory APSB25-66.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running Adobe FrameMaker, enabling full compromise of the user session and any data accessible to that account.

Affected Products

Adobe FrameMaker 2020.8 and earlier 2020.x releases
Adobe FrameMaker 2022.6 and earlier 2022.x releases
Microsoft Windows installations running the affected FrameMaker builds

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-47129 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-07-08 - Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-66 released for FrameMaker
2025-07-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-47129

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] in Adobe FrameMaker's file parsing logic. When FrameMaker processes a specially crafted document, the application writes data past the bounds of an allocated buffer. This corrupts adjacent memory structures on the heap or stack.

Attackers can shape the out-of-bounds write to overwrite function pointers, virtual table entries, or return addresses. Controlling these values allows redirection of execution flow into attacker-supplied code. The result is arbitrary code execution in the security context of the user who opened the file.

The attack vector is local, but delivery channels are broad. Malicious FrameMaker documents can arrive via email, file shares, or web downloads. No authentication is required on the application itself, only that the victim opens the file.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking during parsing of structured document data. Adobe has not published parser internals, but advisory APSB25-66 confirms the defect class as out-of-bounds write. The condition is triggered by malformed length fields or record sizes that exceed allocated buffer capacity.

Attack Vector

The attacker creates a malicious FrameMaker file containing crafted structures that trigger the out-of-bounds write. The file is delivered through phishing, drive-by download, or shared storage. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable FrameMaker build, the parser corrupts memory and pivots execution into the attacker's payload.

The vulnerability mechanism is described in prose because no verified proof-of-concept code is publicly available. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-66 for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-47129

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 violations logged in the Windows Application event log around the time of document opening
Inbound FrameMaker documents (.fm, .mif, .book) from untrusted senders or external file shares

Detection Strategies

Monitor process lineage where FrameMaker.exe is the parent of scripting hosts, LOLBins, or network utilities
Hunt for FrameMaker writing executable content to %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, or user profile directories
Correlate FrameMaker crash events with subsequent network connections or persistence creation

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows Defender Exploit Guard and audit memory protection events on hosts running FrameMaker
Forward endpoint process, file, and network telemetry to a central data lake for retrospective hunting against new indicators
Apply mail and web gateway inspection rules that flag inbound FrameMaker file types from external sources

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-47129

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe FrameMaker to the fixed releases identified in advisory APSB25-66 on every Windows endpoint that has FrameMaker installed
Block inbound FrameMaker document attachments at the email gateway until patching is complete across the estate
Restrict opening of FrameMaker files to documents originating from trusted internal sources

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2025-47129 in the updates published with Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-66. Administrators should deploy the vendor-supplied installers to versions after FrameMaker 2020.8 and 2022.6. Verify the installed build through Help > About FrameMaker after upgrade.

Workarounds

Run FrameMaker under a standard user account, never with administrative privileges, to limit the impact of successful exploitation
Use application allowlisting to prevent FrameMaker from launching unauthorized child processes
Open untrusted documents only inside an isolated virtual machine or sandboxed environment until patches are applied

bash

# Query installed Adobe FrameMaker version on Windows endpoints
wmic product where "Name like 'Adobe FrameMaker%%'" get Name,Version