CVE-2025-54226: Adobe InDesign RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-54226 Overview

CVE-2025-54226 is a Use After Free vulnerability [CWE-416] 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 vulnerability requires user interaction, as a victim must open a malicious InDesign file crafted by an attacker. Adobe published the security advisory APSB25-79 addressing this issue. The flaw affects installations on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms.

Critical Impact
Attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user by convincing the victim to open a malicious InDesign document.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop version 20.4 and earlier (2025 release)
Adobe InDesign Desktop version 19.5.4 and earlier (2024 release)
Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-54226 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-54226

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-54226 is a Use After Free flaw [CWE-416] within Adobe InDesign Desktop file parsing logic. The application references memory after it has been freed, allowing an attacker to influence the contents of the reused allocation. When InDesign later dereferences that stale pointer, controlled data can redirect execution flow. The result is arbitrary code execution under the identity of the user running InDesign. Exploitation is local and requires the victim to open a malicious file, typically delivered through phishing or a compromised design asset.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper memory lifecycle management inside InDesign's document parsing routines. An object is released while a pointer to it remains reachable and is later reused during subsequent parsing operations. Adobe has not disclosed the specific object type or file structure involved. The security advisory APSB25-79 confirms the class of vulnerability without exposing exploitation primitives.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious .indd or related InDesign asset and delivers it via email, file share, or web download. When the target opens the file, the corrupted structure triggers the Use After Free during parsing. Execution occurs in the security context of the current user, enabling persistence, data theft, or lateral movement depending on user privileges. Refer to the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory APSB25-79 for vendor details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-54226

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes of InDesign.exe on Windows or Adobe InDesign on macOS shortly after opening a document from an untrusted source
Child processes spawned from InDesign such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, or osascript that deviate from normal creative workflows
InDesign making outbound network connections to unfamiliar hosts after opening a shared design file

Detection Strategies

Monitor process trees where Adobe InDesign is the parent of scripting interpreters or LOLBins
Alert on writes to autorun locations, scheduled tasks, or LaunchAgents originating from an InDesign session
Inspect email gateways and file shares for .indd, .idml, or .indt files from external senders and correlate with subsequent endpoint activity

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable command-line auditing and Sysmon (Windows) or ESF/EndpointSecurity telemetry (macOS) to capture InDesign process behavior
Track version inventory of Adobe InDesign across managed endpoints to identify unpatched hosts running 20.4 or 19.5.4 and earlier
Correlate document open events with subsequent module loads or memory allocation anomalies within Adobe processes

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-54226

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe InDesign to the fixed versions listed in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-79
Instruct users to avoid opening InDesign files received from unverified sources or unexpected senders
Ensure user accounts running InDesign operate without administrative privileges to limit blast radius

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds for InDesign 2025 (above 20.4) and InDesign 2024 (above 19.5.4) as documented in APSB25-79. Administrators should deploy the updated builds through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tools such as the Adobe Admin Console and Creative Cloud Packager.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of InDesign documents to files from trusted internal repositories until patches are applied
Apply application allowlisting to block execution of child processes from InDesign.exe that are not part of normal creative workflows
Use email filtering to quarantine inbound .indd, .idml, and .indt attachments pending review

bash

# Verify installed Adobe InDesign version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*InDesign*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion

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