CVE-2025-61824: Adobe InDesign Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2025-61824 Overview

CVE-2025-61824 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.5, 19.5.5, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious file. Adobe published advisory APSB25-106 documenting the issue, which impacts both Windows and macOS installations. Exploitation requires user interaction, limiting the attack to scenarios involving social engineering or file delivery through trusted channels. The vulnerability maps to [CWE-122] Heap-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants attackers arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the InDesign user, enabling malware installation, data theft, or lateral movement.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop 20.5 and earlier
Adobe InDesign Desktop 19.5.5 and earlier
Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of the affected versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-61824 published to NVD
2025-11-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-61824

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in InDesign Desktop's file parsing logic. When the application processes a specially crafted document, it writes data beyond the bounds of a heap-allocated buffer. This memory corruption can be steered by an attacker to overwrite adjacent heap metadata or function pointers.

The issue requires local access and user interaction. A victim must open a malicious InDesign file delivered through email, web download, or shared storage. Once opened, the corrupted heap state allows the attacker to redirect execution flow and run arbitrary code under the user's account.

The vulnerability affects both Windows and macOS builds of InDesign, indicating the flawed parsing code is platform-independent. Adobe has not disclosed the specific file format component responsible for the overflow.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of input data sizes before writing into a heap buffer during document parsing. The parser fails to verify that incoming data fits within the allocated region, producing an out-of-bounds write classified under [CWE-787]. This pattern is consistent with [CWE-122] heap corruption flaws found in complex binary document formats.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local with required user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious InDesign file and convinces a victim to open it. No network access or elevated privileges are required for delivery. Common delivery mechanisms include phishing emails with document attachments, watering hole sites hosting trojanized templates, and shared file repositories used by design teams.

The vulnerability description does not include exploitation code, 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-2025-61824

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected InDesign process crashes or anomalous exit codes when opening documents from untrusted sources
Child processes spawned by InDesign.exe (Windows) or Adobe InDesign (macOS) that launch shells, scripting engines, or download utilities
Outbound network connections initiated by InDesign to unfamiliar hosts shortly after document open events

Detection Strategies

Monitor for InDesign processes spawning cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, osascript, or other interpreters
Inspect file creation events where InDesign writes executables or scripts to user-writable directories
Correlate InDesign crash telemetry with recent INDD, IDML, or template file opens from external sources

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable endpoint telemetry that captures process lineage, file writes, and network connections from Adobe applications
Track installed InDesign versions across the fleet to identify hosts still running 20.5, 19.5.5, or earlier
Alert on email gateway events delivering InDesign file types to high-value users such as creative and marketing staff

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-61824

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe security update referenced in APSB25-106 to all Windows and macOS endpoints running InDesign
Inventory all systems running InDesign Desktop and prioritize patching workstations used by users who handle externally sourced files
Instruct users to avoid opening InDesign documents from untrusted email attachments or unknown web sources

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed versions of InDesign Desktop in security bulletin APSB25-106. Administrators should update affected installations to the latest available builds documented in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-106. Use Adobe Creative Cloud or enterprise deployment tooling to push updates across managed endpoints.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of InDesign files to documents originating from trusted internal sources until patches are deployed
Use email gateway rules to flag or quarantine inbound INDD and IDML attachments from external senders
Apply application allowlisting to prevent InDesign from spawning command interpreters or unsigned executables

bash

# Verify installed InDesign version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe InDesign 2025/Adobe InDesign 2025.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString

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