CVE-2025-54209: Adobe InDesign Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-54209 Overview

CVE-2025-54209 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability [CWE-122] in Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.4, 19.5.4, and earlier. The flaw can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, as a victim must open a malicious file crafted by an attacker. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB25-79.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user opening a malicious InDesign document, potentially compromising the host system.

Affected Products

• Adobe InDesign Desktop 20.4 and earlier
• Adobe InDesign Desktop 19.5.4 and earlier
• Windows and macOS installations of Adobe InDesign

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-54209 published to NVD
• 2025-08-13 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-54209

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow [CWE-122] in Adobe InDesign Desktop. InDesign improperly validates input data while parsing a crafted document, allowing data to be written past the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer. Overflowing heap metadata or adjacent objects enables an attacker to corrupt program state and divert execution flow. The result is arbitrary code execution in the security context of the user running InDesign. Because the impacted process typically runs with full user privileges, attackers can read user files, install persistence mechanisms, or pivot deeper into the host.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of structured content within InDesign document files. When a malformed object is processed, the allocated heap buffer is smaller than the data written into it. Adobe has not published low-level technical details. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-79 for vendor guidance.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious InDesign file through email, file sharing, or a download link. The victim opens the file in a vulnerable InDesign version, triggering the heap corruption. No network access or elevated privileges are needed to initiate the attack. Public proof-of-concept code is not available, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54209

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected InDesign.exe (Windows) or Adobe InDesign (macOS) process crashes when opening documents from untrusted sources
• Spawning of command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh as child processes of InDesign
• InDesign processes making outbound network connections to unfamiliar domains shortly after opening a file
• Newly written executables or scripts in user-writable directories following the opening of an .indd file

Detection Strategies

• Monitor process lineage for InDesign spawning shells, scripting hosts, or LOLBins
• Inspect crash dumps from WerFault.exe or macOS CrashReporter referencing InDesign modules for heap corruption signatures
• Apply EDR behavioral rules that flag memory protection changes and shellcode execution within Adobe application processes

Monitoring Recommendations

• Alert on InDesign opening files originating from email attachments, browser downloads, or removable media
• Track installed InDesign build numbers across endpoints to identify versions at or below 20.4 and 19.5.4
• Forward endpoint telemetry to a centralized SIEM and correlate Adobe process anomalies with user file-open events

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54209

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Adobe InDesign to the fixed versions identified in Adobe APSB25-79
• Restrict opening of InDesign files received from external or untrusted sources until patches are applied
• Enforce least-privilege user accounts so a successful exploit does not yield administrative rights

Patch Information

Adobe released patched builds of InDesign Desktop on August 12, 2025, as documented in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-79. Administrators should deploy the vendor-provided updates through Adobe Creative Cloud or enterprise software distribution tools.

Workarounds

• Block inbound .indd, .indt, .indb, and .idml attachments at the email gateway when business workflows allow
• Use application allowlisting to prevent InDesign from launching child processes such as shells and scripting interpreters
• Train users to verify the origin of design files before opening them and to report unexpected files to security teams

# Verify installed Adobe InDesign version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\InDesign" /s | findstr /i "Version"

# Verify installed Adobe InDesign version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2024/Adobe InDesign 2024.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString