CVE-2025-54210: Adobe InDesign RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-54210 Overview

CVE-2025-54210 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.4, 19.5.4, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious InDesign file. Exploitation requires local user interaction, meaning the attacker must convince the target to open a crafted document. Adobe published the corresponding security advisory APSB25-79 on August 12, 2025. The vulnerability affects installations on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants attackers arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user, enabling malware deployment, credential theft, or lateral movement from compromised design workstations.

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 InDesign versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-54210 published to NVD and Adobe releases advisory APSB25-79
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-54210

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-54210 is classified as an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] in Adobe InDesign Desktop. Out-of-bounds write flaws occur when software writes data past the end, or before the beginning, of the intended buffer. In InDesign, parsing routines handle complex document structures including embedded objects, fonts, and styling metadata. Malformed values in these structures can cause the application to write attacker-controlled data outside the allocated memory region.

An attacker crafts a malicious InDesign document that triggers the memory corruption during parsing. The corrupted memory can overwrite adjacent objects, function pointers, or virtual table entries. This gives the attacker control over execution flow, resulting in arbitrary code execution within the InDesign process. The impact spans confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds checking when InDesign parses structured content in document files. When the parser encounters unexpected length fields or index values, it fails to validate them against the destination buffer size before writing. Attackers craft these values to place controlled bytes at chosen memory offsets. The Adobe advisory does not disclose the specific file structure or parser function involved.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local access and user interaction. The attacker delivers a malicious .indd or related InDesign file through email, file sharing, or a compromised website. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable InDesign version, the parser processes the crafted structure and triggers the out-of-bounds write. Code then executes with the privileges of the logged-in user, without additional prompts or authentication.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available for CVE-2025-54210, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The EPSS probability is 0.241% at the 15.061 percentile, indicating a low current likelihood of observed exploitation. See the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54210

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by InDesign.exe on Windows or Adobe InDesign on macOS, including shells, powershell.exe, cmd.exe, or osascript.
InDesign process crashes with access violation or heap corruption exceptions logged shortly after opening a document from an untrusted source.
Outbound network connections initiated by the InDesign process to unfamiliar hosts immediately after document open.
InDesign files delivered via email, chat, or download from external senders that reference urgent design review requests.

Detection Strategies

Deploy endpoint detection and response tooling to flag anomalous child process creation from InDesign.
Alert on write operations to sensitive directories, autorun locations, or LaunchAgents originating from the InDesign process.
Correlate document open events with subsequent process, file, and network activity to identify exploitation chains.
Inspect email gateways and file share scanners for .indd, .idml, and related InDesign file types from external sources.

Monitoring Recommendations

Monitor Adobe application version inventory to identify hosts running InDesign 20.4, 19.5.4, or earlier.
Track user reports of InDesign crashes and preserve crash dumps for forensic review.
Log and review all execution of scripting interpreters spawned by Adobe applications.
Baseline expected outbound connections from creative workstations and alert on deviations.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54210

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe InDesign to a version newer than 20.4 on the 2025 release track or newer than 19.5.4 on the 2024 track as directed in APSB25-79.
Restrict opening InDesign documents received from untrusted or unverified sources until patching completes.
Enforce standard user privileges on design workstations to limit the impact of code execution in the InDesign context.
Communicate the risk to design and marketing teams who handle inbound .indd files from external partners.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed versions of InDesign Desktop concurrent with the publication of advisory APSB25-79 on August 12, 2025. Administrators should apply updates through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or by downloading the current installers from Adobe. Full remediation guidance is available in the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory.

Workarounds

Block delivery of InDesign document attachments at email gateways for users who do not require them.
Use a segmented, non-privileged review workstation to open InDesign files from external parties.
Disable automatic file previews for InDesign formats in file managers and collaboration tools.
Apply application allowlisting to prevent unexpected child processes from launching under Adobe applications.

bash

# Configuration example: verify installed InDesign version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2024/Adobe InDesign 2024.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2025/Adobe InDesign 2025.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString