CVE-2025-54208 Overview
CVE-2025-54208 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.4, 19.5.4, and earlier. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The flaw requires user interaction: a victim must open a crafted malicious file in InDesign. Adobe published advisory APSB25-79 on August 12, 2025 addressing this issue across Windows and macOS installations. The vulnerability carries a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 and affects both standalone and Creative Cloud deployments of InDesign.
Critical Impact
An attacker who convinces a user to open a malicious InDesign document can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, leading to data theft, persistence, or lateral movement.
Affected Products
- Adobe InDesign Desktop version 20.4 and earlier
- Adobe InDesign Desktop version 19.5.4 and earlier
- Windows and macOS installations of the affected versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-54208 published to NVD and Adobe advisory APSB25-79 released
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-54208
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] in Adobe InDesign Desktop's file parsing logic. When InDesign processes a malformed document, the application writes data past the bounds of an allocated buffer. This memory corruption can overwrite adjacent data structures, function pointers, or control flow metadata used by the process.
Attackers craft a malicious InDesign file containing manipulated fields that trigger the out-of-bounds condition during parsing. Because the write occurs in the context of the InDesign process, attackers can stage arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user who opened the file. On both Windows and macOS, this typically grants access to the user's documents, credentials, and network resources.
No public proof-of-concept exploit or exploitation in the wild has been reported. The EPSS probability remains low, but the local attack vector combined with high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability makes this a notable risk for design and publishing workflows where files are frequently shared.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of structured data within InDesign document formats. Length or offset fields supplied by the file are trusted without validation against the actual allocated buffer size, allowing a write beyond the intended boundary.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires local user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious .indd or related InDesign file through email, file-sharing platforms, or compromised websites. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of InDesign, the parsing routine triggers the out-of-bounds write and the attacker's payload executes.
No verified exploit code is publicly available. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-79 for vendor-supplied technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54208
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by InDesign.exe on Windows or the Adobe InDesign binary on macOS, such as command shells or scripting interpreters
- InDesign process crashes or abnormal termination immediately after opening a document, often logged with access violation or EXC_BAD_ACCESS signatures
- Inbound .indd, .indt, or .idml files received from untrusted senders, especially with anomalous file sizes or embedded objects
Detection Strategies
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for InDesign processes performing network connections, file writes to system directories, or process injection behavior
- Inspect application crash logs and Windows Error Reporting entries referencing InDesign modules for repeated faults consistent with memory corruption
- Apply YARA or content inspection rules at email and web gateways to flag InDesign documents with malformed structural elements
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track InDesign version inventory across endpoints and alert on hosts running versions at or below 20.4 and 19.5.4
- Forward endpoint, email gateway, and proxy logs to a centralized analytics platform to correlate document delivery with downstream process activity
- Establish behavioral baselines for the Adobe InDesign process and alert on deviations such as unusual parent-child relationships or privilege use
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54208
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Adobe InDesign Desktop to the fixed releases listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-79 on all Windows and macOS hosts
- Restrict opening of InDesign files received from untrusted or external sources until patching is complete
- Audit endpoints with Creative Cloud applications to confirm automatic updates are enabled and applied
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed versions of InDesign Desktop in advisory APSB25-79 on August 12, 2025. Administrators should deploy the patched builds through Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop or enterprise deployment tooling. Validate post-update versions against the advisory before reauthorizing document handling on remediated systems.
Workarounds
- Block delivery of .indd, .indt, and .idml attachments at email gateways from external senders where business processes allow
- Open untrusted InDesign documents only in isolated virtual machines or sandboxed environments that lack access to sensitive data and network resources
- Apply least-privilege principles so users running InDesign do not hold local administrator rights, limiting the impact of successful exploitation
# Configuration example: query installed InDesign version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\InDesign" /s | findstr /i "Version"
# macOS: check installed InDesign version
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2025/Adobe InDesign 2025.app"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
