CVE-2025-61826: Adobe Illustrator iPad RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-61826 Overview

CVE-2025-61826 is an integer underflow vulnerability [CWE-191] affecting Adobe Illustrator on iPad versions 3.0.9 and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a crafted file. Exploitation requires user interaction, but no privileges or authentication are needed on the target device. Adobe published the issue on November 11, 2025 with a security advisory tracked as APSB25-111.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation leads to arbitrary code execution under the current user, giving attackers control over the affected iPad session and access to user data within the app sandbox.

Affected Products

Adobe Illustrator on iPad versions 3.0.9 and earlier
iPadOS installations running the vulnerable Illustrator mobile build
Environments distributing Illustrator on iPad through enterprise app management

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-61826 published to NVD
2025-11-11 - Adobe released security bulletin APSB25-111
2025-11-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-61826

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an integer underflow, classified under [CWE-191] (Integer Underflow, Wrap or Wraparound). Illustrator on iPad performs arithmetic on values parsed from file structures without validating that subtraction operations remain within the bounds of unsigned integer types. When the computed value wraps below zero, it produces a large unsigned result that downstream code treats as a valid size or offset.

This condition corrupts memory state during file parsing. An attacker who supplies a malformed Illustrator project file can steer the underflow to control allocations, write operations, or pointer arithmetic. The end result is arbitrary code execution within the Illustrator process on the iPad. The attack vector is local and requires the victim to open the file, which aligns with the CVSS vector component AV:L/UI:R.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing validation on unsigned integer subtraction during file parsing in Illustrator on iPad. Operands derived from attacker-controlled file fields are subtracted without lower-bound checks, allowing the result to wrap around. The vulnerable code then uses the wrapped value as a length, index, or buffer size, producing memory corruption that an attacker shapes into code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local file delivery. An attacker crafts a malicious Illustrator file containing values designed to trigger the underflow in the parser. The file reaches the victim through standard delivery channels such as email attachments, cloud sharing services, AirDrop, or USB transfer. When the user opens the file in Illustrator on iPad, the parser processes the malicious structure and executes attacker-controlled code in the context of the current user. No network position or prior access to the device is required.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available, and the CVE is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. The current EPSS value indicates a low probability of exploitation in the immediate term, but the requirement for only user interaction lowers the practical barrier once a working exploit emerges.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-61826

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes, hangs, or restarts of Illustrator on iPad immediately after opening a project file
Illustrator project files received from untrusted senders with unusual headers or oversized embedded structures
Anomalous outbound network connections initiated by Illustrator on iPad shortly after file open events
User reports of opening .ai or related files from phishing emails, shared cloud links, or AirDrop from unknown sources

Detection Strategies

Inspect mobile device management (MDM) telemetry for Illustrator on iPad installations reporting version 3.0.9 or earlier
Scan email and cloud collaboration platforms for Illustrator files arriving from external senders and quarantine for review
Correlate iPad application crash logs with recent file-open events to surface suspicious parser failures
Apply file analysis at email and cloud storage gateways to flag malformed Illustrator project structures

Monitoring Recommendations

Track Illustrator on iPad version inventory continuously through MDM and alert on devices below the patched version
Monitor file-sharing channels (email, AirDrop, cloud) for Illustrator file types delivered from outside the organization
Review iPad system logs for repeated Illustrator process terminations that may indicate exploitation attempts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-61826

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Illustrator on iPad to the version specified in Adobe security bulletin APSB25-111
Push the update through MDM to all managed iPads with Illustrator installed and enforce minimum version policies
Instruct users not to open Illustrator project files received from untrusted or unverified sources until patching is complete
Verify patch deployment by auditing installed Illustrator versions across the device fleet

Patch Information

Adobe released a fixed version of Illustrator on iPad addressing CVE-2025-61826. Patch details and download guidance are published in the Adobe Illustrator Mobile Security Advisory APSB25-111. Apply the update through the App Store or through enterprise MDM-managed app deployment.

Workarounds

Restrict opening Illustrator files to those originating from trusted internal sources until the patch is applied
Use email and cloud storage filtering to block or quarantine Illustrator file types from external senders during the patch window
Disable or remove Illustrator on iPad on devices that cannot be updated promptly, particularly for high-risk users

bash

# Example MDM query to identify vulnerable Illustrator on iPad installations
# Replace with the syntax of your MDM platform (Jamf, Intune, Workspace ONE, etc.)
mdm query devices \
  --app-bundle-id "com.adobe.IllustratorMobile" \
  --version-less-than "3.0.10" \
  --output csv > vulnerable_illustrator_ipad.csv