CVE-2025-49532: Adobe Illustrator RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-49532 Overview

CVE-2025-49532 is an integer underflow vulnerability [CWE-191] affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 28.7.6, 29.5.1, and earlier on Windows and macOS. The flaw allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a crafted file. Adobe published the security bulletin APSB25-65 on July 8, 2025. Exploitation requires user interaction, which limits remote attack scenarios but remains viable in phishing and supply-chain campaigns targeting design teams.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user opening a malicious Illustrator file, leading to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the host.

Affected Products

Adobe Illustrator 2024 version 28.7.6 and earlier
Adobe Illustrator 2025 version 29.5.1 and earlier
Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of the above versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-49532 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-07-08 - Adobe publishes security bulletin APSB25-65
2025-07-10 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49532

Vulnerability Analysis

The issue is an integer underflow, also known as wrap or wraparound, classified under [CWE-191]. Integer underflows occur when an arithmetic operation produces a value below the minimum representable integer for its type. The result wraps to a large positive value when interpreted as unsigned. In Adobe Illustrator, this miscalculation occurs while parsing attacker-controlled data inside a document file. The corrupted size or offset value is then used in subsequent memory operations, leading to out-of-bounds memory access and corruption of program state. Attackers chain this primitive into arbitrary code execution that runs with the privileges of the user opening the file.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient validation of a numeric field read from a parsed file. A subtraction operation produces a value below zero, which then wraps to a large unsigned integer. Illustrator subsequently uses this value as a buffer length, loop counter, or memory offset.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a crafted Illustrator file through email, messaging, shared drives, or compromised websites. The victim opens the file in a vulnerable Illustrator version, triggering the integer underflow during parsing. No verified public exploit code or proof-of-concept is currently available, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

No verified proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Adobe Illustrator Security Update for vendor technical detail.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49532

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Illustrator processes (Illustrator.exe on Windows, Adobe Illustrator on macOS) spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or shell interpreters
Illustrator processes performing network connections to unfamiliar external hosts shortly after opening a document
Unexpected file writes by Illustrator into startup, scheduled task, or LaunchAgent directories
Illustrator document files (.ai, .eps, .pdf, .svg) received from untrusted senders or downloaded from unverified sources

Detection Strategies

Build endpoint detection rules that flag Illustrator spawning interpreters or living-off-the-land binaries
Monitor for memory access violations and crash events in Illustrator processes, which can indicate exploitation attempts
Correlate Illustrator file open events with subsequent process injection, code execution, or persistence behavior

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize Illustrator process telemetry and crash logs from Windows Event Logs and macOS unified logging
Track Illustrator version inventory through software asset management to identify hosts still running 28.7.6, 29.5.1, or earlier
Alert on Illustrator outbound network connections that fall outside known Adobe Creative Cloud endpoints

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49532

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Illustrator to the fixed versions listed in APSB25-65 on all Windows and macOS endpoints
Restrict opening Illustrator files received from external or untrusted sources until patching is complete
Educate design and marketing teams about phishing campaigns delivering weaponized graphics files
Verify Creative Cloud auto-update is enabled and functioning across the fleet

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2025-49532 in the updates documented in security bulletin APSB25-65. Administrators should consult the Adobe Illustrator Security Update for fixed version numbers and deployment guidance. Apply updates through the Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tools such as the Adobe Admin Console.

Workarounds

Block inbound Illustrator file types at email gateways when no business need exists
Restrict Illustrator execution to standard user accounts without local administrator rights to limit post-exploitation impact
Apply application control policies that prevent Illustrator from spawning shell or scripting interpreters

bash

# Example: enumerate Illustrator versions on macOS endpoints
mdfind "kMDItemCFBundleIdentifier == 'com.adobe.illustrator'" \
  | xargs -I {} defaults read "{}/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString