CVE-2025-61814 Overview
CVE-2025-61814 is a Use After Free vulnerability [CWE-416] affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.5, 19.5.5 and earlier. The flaw can result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically opening a malicious InDesign file crafted by an attacker.
The vulnerability impacts InDesign installations on both Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows platforms. Adobe addressed the issue in security advisory APSB25-106.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation enables arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, allowing attackers to install programs, modify data, or pivot deeper into the host.
Affected Products
- Adobe InDesign Desktop 20.5 and earlier (2025 release)
- Adobe InDesign Desktop 19.5.5 and earlier (2024 release)
- Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows installations
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-61814 published to NVD
- 2025-11-12 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-61814
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a Use After Free condition [CWE-416] in the InDesign file parsing code path. Use After Free flaws occur when an application continues to reference memory after that memory has been released. Attackers who control the freed memory region can place crafted data there before the dangling pointer is dereferenced.
In the context of a desktop document processor like InDesign, the attacker-controlled data typically influences a virtual function pointer or other indirect call target. Once the freed object is reused with attacker data, the next operation against the stale pointer can redirect execution flow.
The attack vector is local, requiring the victim to open a malicious .indd or related InDesign file. No elevated privileges or prior authentication are needed.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper management of object lifetime during file parsing. An object is freed while a reference to it remains live elsewhere in the program state. When the application later operates on that stale reference, it accesses memory that may now contain attacker-controlled content from a subsequent allocation.
Attack Vector
An attacker crafts a malicious InDesign document designed to trigger the dangling pointer condition. The document is delivered through phishing, file-sharing services, or compromised collaboration channels. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of InDesign, parsing logic frees an internal object and later dereferences the pointer, executing attacker-controlled code in the user context.
No exploitation in the wild has been reported, and no public proof-of-concept is currently available. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-106 for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-61814
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by InDesign.exe on Windows or the Adobe InDesign process on macOS, particularly shells, scripting hosts, or rundll32.
- InDesign process crashes with access violation or EXC_BAD_ACCESS exceptions logged shortly after opening a third-party document.
- Inbound .indd, .indt, .idml, or .indb files received via email or shared drives from untrusted senders.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for InDesign process anomalies, including unexpected memory allocation patterns, code injection attempts, and child process creation.
- Apply behavioral identification rules that flag document handlers performing network connections or writing executables to disk after opening files.
- Correlate file-open events for InDesign document extensions with subsequent suspicious process activity.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest endpoint process and file telemetry into a centralized SIEM or data lake for cross-host correlation.
- Alert on InDesign versions reported by software inventory that match the vulnerable ranges (20.5 and 19.5.5 or earlier).
- Track user-reported InDesign crashes and route them to security review when correlated with externally sourced files.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-61814
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe InDesign to the fixed releases listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-106.
- Inventory all macOS and Windows endpoints running InDesign and prioritize patching for users who routinely open externally sourced documents.
- Instruct users to avoid opening InDesign files from untrusted senders until patching is complete.
Patch Information
Adobe published fixes in security bulletin APSB25-106. Administrators should deploy the updated InDesign 2025 and InDesign 2024 builds released by Adobe to all affected systems. Full details are available in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-106.
Workarounds
- Restrict InDesign file handling to trusted document sources through email gateway and web proxy policies.
- Apply application allowlisting to block child processes spawned by InDesign that are not required for normal workflows.
- Run InDesign under standard user accounts rather than administrative accounts to limit the impact of code execution.
# Example: query installed InDesign version on macOS
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2025/Adobe InDesign 2025.app"
# Example: query installed InDesign version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*InDesign*" } |
Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
