CVE-2025-49527: Adobe Illustrator Buffer Overflow Flaw

CVE-2025-49527 Overview

CVE-2025-49527 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability [CWE-121] affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 28.7.6, 29.5.1, and earlier on Windows and macOS. An attacker who convinces a user to open a crafted file can trigger memory corruption and execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The flaw requires local access and user interaction, which limits remote exploitation but makes Illustrator a viable target for spear-phishing campaigns that deliver malicious design files. Adobe published advisory APSB25-65 to address the issue.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the logged-in user, enabling malware installation, credential theft, and lateral movement from creative workstations.

Affected Products

Adobe Illustrator 28.7.6 and earlier (2024 release line)
Adobe Illustrator 29.5.1 and earlier (2025 release line)
Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows installations of the affected Illustrator builds

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-49527 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49527

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow [CWE-121] in Adobe Illustrator's file parsing logic. When Illustrator processes a malicious document, the application writes attacker-controlled data past the boundary of a fixed-size stack buffer. The overflow can overwrite saved return addresses, frame pointers, and adjacent local variables, redirecting execution to attacker-supplied code.

The attack is local and requires user interaction, meaning a victim must open the crafted file. Adobe has not published exploit details, and no public proof-of-concept is currently available. The EPSS probability is low, but Illustrator workstations frequently handle untrusted files from external clients, raising practical risk.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when parsing structured data from an Illustrator-compatible file format. Affected routines copy variable-length fields into fixed stack buffers without validating the source size against the destination capacity, satisfying the classic CWE-121 pattern.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a malicious file and delivers it through email, file-sharing platforms, or compromised asset libraries. When a user opens the file in a vulnerable Illustrator build, the parser corrupts the stack and transfers control to embedded shellcode. Code runs with the user's privileges, which on creative workstations often include access to design repositories, cloud sync clients, and saved credentials.

// No verified public exploit code is available for CVE-2025-49527.
// Refer to Adobe advisory APSB25-65 for vendor-confirmed technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49527

Indicators of Compromise

Illustrator process (Illustrator.exe on Windows, Adobe Illustrator on macOS) spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, or osascript.
Unexpected outbound network connections initiated by the Illustrator process shortly after a document is opened.
Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting events referencing access violations inside Illustrator file parsing modules.
Unusual file writes to startup, scheduled task, or LaunchAgent directories following an Illustrator session.

Detection Strategies

Hunt for parent-child process anomalies where Illustrator launches shells, scripting interpreters, or LOLBins.
Monitor for module loads of unsigned or non-Adobe DLLs and dylibs inside the Illustrator process space.
Alert on Illustrator processes creating persistence artifacts in Run registry keys, ~/Library/LaunchAgents, or Startup folders.
Inspect inbound email and file-sharing telemetry for .ai, .eps, .pdf, and .svg files from untrusted senders.

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize endpoint telemetry from creative workstations and apply behavioral rules focused on Adobe applications.
Enable Adobe application crash telemetry and forward to the SIEM for correlation with file-open events.
Track Illustrator version inventory continuously to identify hosts still running 28.7.6, 29.5.1, or earlier.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49527

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Illustrator to the fixed versions listed in Adobe advisory APSB25-65 on every Windows and macOS endpoint.
Block inbound Illustrator-compatible file types from untrusted external senders at the email gateway until patching completes.
Instruct designers to avoid opening unsolicited .ai, .eps, and related files, and to validate sources before opening.
Restrict Illustrator workstations to standard user privileges to limit post-exploitation impact.

Patch Information

Adobe released updated Illustrator builds that remediate CVE-2025-49527. Refer to the Adobe Illustrator Security Advisory APSB25-65 for fixed version numbers and download links. Deploy the update through Adobe Creative Cloud or enterprise software distribution tooling.

Workarounds

Where immediate patching is not feasible, isolate vulnerable Illustrator hosts from sensitive network segments.
Use application allowlisting to prevent Illustrator from spawning shells or scripting interpreters.
Open suspicious design files only inside disposable virtual machines without network access.

bash

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

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