CVE-2025-49564: Adobe Illustrator RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-49564 Overview

CVE-2025-49564 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability [CWE-121] affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 28.7.8, 29.6.1, and earlier on both Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a crafted file. Exploitation requires user interaction, which limits remote mass-exploitation scenarios but still presents risk in targeted attacks against designers and creative professionals. Adobe published patches in security advisory APSB25-74 on August 12, 2025.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, leading to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected workstation.

Affected Products

Adobe Illustrator 28.7.8 and earlier (2024 release line)
Adobe Illustrator 29.6.1 and earlier (2025 release line)
Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows installations of the above versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - Adobe releases security patch in advisory APSB25-74
2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-49564 published to NVD
2025-08-14 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49564

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow within Adobe Illustrator's file parsing logic. When Illustrator processes a malformed input file, the application writes attacker-controlled data beyond the bounds of a fixed-size buffer allocated on the program stack. The overflow can corrupt adjacent stack frames, including saved return addresses and exception handlers. An attacker who controls the overflowing content can redirect execution to attacker-supplied instructions or to existing code gadgets within the process.

Because Illustrator runs in the security context of the interactive user, successful exploitation grants the attacker the same privileges as the victim. This typically includes read and write access to user documents, stored credentials, and any network resources the user can reach. The attack vector is local and requires the victim to open a malicious file, often delivered through email, shared cloud storage, or compromised design asset repositories.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper bounds checking when parsing structured data from an Illustrator-readable file format. The application copies attacker-controlled length or content fields into a stack buffer without validating that the source data fits within the destination. Adobe has not publicly disclosed the specific file format component or function affected.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local with user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious Illustrator-compatible file, delivers it through phishing, supply-chain compromise, or social engineering, and waits for the victim to open it. No prior authentication to the target system is required beyond the user's own session. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-74 for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49564

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Illustrator process (Illustrator.exe on Windows, Adobe Illustrator on macOS) spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or shell interpreters
Unexpected outbound network connections initiated by the Illustrator process to untrusted hosts
Crash dumps or Windows Error Reporting events referencing access violations within Illustrator modules immediately after opening a file

Detection Strategies

Monitor process lineage where Illustrator is the parent process and the child is a scripting host, command interpreter, or LOLBin
Hunt for newly written executables or scripts in user-writable directories following an Illustrator file-open event
Apply YARA or content rules to email and file-share gateways to flag Illustrator-compatible files originating from external senders

Monitoring Recommendations

Centralize endpoint telemetry for Illustrator process activity, including command-line arguments and loaded modules
Alert on Illustrator process crashes correlated with the recent opening of files received from external or untrusted sources
Track installed Illustrator versions across the fleet to identify hosts still running 28.7.8, 29.6.1, or earlier

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49564

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Illustrator to the fixed versions identified in advisory APSB25-74 on all Windows and macOS endpoints
Inventory creative workstations and prioritize patching for users who routinely receive Illustrator files from external parties
Instruct users to avoid opening .ai, .eps, .pdf, or other Illustrator-compatible files from untrusted sources until patching is complete

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds on August 12, 2025 as documented in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-74. Administrators should deploy the updated builds through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or managed enterprise deployment tooling. Verify version strings after installation to confirm remediation.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of Illustrator-compatible files received from external senders until patches are applied
Enforce attack surface reduction rules that block Office and creative applications from spawning child processes
Run Illustrator under least-privilege user accounts and avoid using local administrator accounts for daily design work

bash

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

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