CVE-2025-61827 Overview
CVE-2025-61827 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability 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 malicious file. The vulnerability requires user interaction, limiting remote exploitation, but presents risk through phishing or supply-chain delivered design assets. Adobe assigned a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 and tracks the issue under advisory APSB25-111. The CWE classifications are [CWE-122] Heap-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation lets an attacker execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Illustrator application user on an iPad device.
Affected Products
- Adobe Illustrator on iPad version 3.0.9
- Adobe Illustrator on iPad earlier 3.x releases
- All prior Illustrator on iPad builds preceding the APSB25-111 fix
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-61827 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-61827
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow within Adobe Illustrator on iPad. Parsing logic in the application writes beyond the bounds of an allocated heap buffer when processing a malformed input file. The condition aligns with [CWE-787] out-of-bounds write semantics on heap memory. An attacker controls the data placed past the allocation boundary, enabling corruption of adjacent heap structures used by the application. With careful heap shaping, the corruption can be steered toward control-flow hijack and arbitrary code execution under the current user context. Exploitation is local and requires the victim to open an attacker-supplied file, so social engineering or asset-sharing workflows are the practical delivery channels.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper validation of size or length values during file parsing before a copy operation into a heap-allocated buffer. The application trusts a field controlled by the input file, leading to an oversized write into a buffer too small to hold the data. Adobe has not published low-level technical details beyond the advisory.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local with required user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious Illustrator-compatible file and delivers it through email, messaging, cloud storage, or shared design libraries. When the user opens the file in Illustrator on iPad, the parser triggers the heap overflow. No authentication is required, and successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the user session.
No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported. See the Adobe Illustrator Mobile Security Advisory for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-61827
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected crashes or termination of the Illustrator on iPad application immediately after opening an externally sourced file.
- Untrusted Illustrator file formats (.ai, .svg, related design assets) received from unknown senders or shared libraries.
- iOS crash logs referencing memory corruption faults inside the Illustrator process.
Detection Strategies
- Inspect mobile device management (MDM) telemetry for Illustrator on iPad versions at or below 3.0.9.
- Hunt for suspicious file-sharing activity that delivers Illustrator project files from external or unmanaged accounts.
- Correlate iOS application crash reports with recent file open events to identify possible exploitation attempts.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Track Illustrator on iPad version inventory through MDM compliance reports and flag any device below the patched release.
- Monitor enterprise file-sharing platforms for Illustrator file uploads originating outside approved creative workflows.
- Forward iOS device telemetry and crash diagnostics to centralized logging for review by the security operations team.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-61827
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe Illustrator on iPad to the fixed release identified in Adobe security bulletin APSB25-111.
- Instruct users not to open Illustrator files received from untrusted or unverified sources until patching is complete.
- Audit iPad fleets through MDM and force-update devices still running version 3.0.9 or earlier.
Patch Information
Adobe released a patched version of Illustrator on iPad through the Apple App Store. Review the Adobe Illustrator Mobile Security Advisory for the exact fixed version and apply it across all managed devices.
Workarounds
- Restrict opening Illustrator files to those originating from internal, trusted creative repositories.
- Use MDM application policies to block or warn on Illustrator files arriving via personal email or messaging apps.
- Disable automatic file previews for Illustrator formats in shared collaboration tools until patches are deployed.
# Example MDM compliance check for Illustrator on iPad version
mdm-cli query --app "com.adobe.Illustrator" --field "CFBundleShortVersionString" \
--fail-if-version-le "3.0.9"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
