CVE-2025-61844: Adobe Format Plugins Information Disclosure

CVE-2025-61844 Overview

Adobe Format Plugins versions 1.1.1 and earlier contain an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that can expose memory contents to an attacker. The flaw is tracked under CWE-125 and resides in the file parsing logic used by the plugins. An attacker who convinces a user to open a crafted file can read memory beyond an allocated buffer. Successful exploitation discloses sensitive data from the process address space, including pointers, heap contents, or fragments of user data. Adobe published details in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-114.

Critical Impact
Attackers can disclose sensitive process memory by tricking a victim into opening a malicious file. The disclosed data can support secondary exploitation such as bypassing address space layout randomization (ASLR).

Affected Products

Adobe Format Plugins 1.1.1
Adobe Format Plugins prior versions (all releases up to and including 1.1.1)
Applications embedding the vulnerable Format Plugins component

Discovery Timeline

2025-11-11 - CVE-2025-61844 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-61844

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read [CWE-125] in Adobe Format Plugins file parsers. The parser reads data beyond the end of an allocated buffer while processing attacker-controlled fields in a malicious file. Because the read crosses the intended boundary, memory belonging to unrelated allocations is returned to the parser and may be echoed back through error paths, rendered output, or plugin state.

Exploitation requires local user interaction. The victim must open the crafted file in an application that loads the vulnerable plugin. The disclosure is limited to confidentiality; the flaw does not affect integrity or availability directly. However, disclosed memory frequently accelerates chained exploitation by leaking module base addresses, stack cookies, or heap layouts.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation on a length or offset field parsed from an untrusted file. The parser trusts a size value from the file header or record structure and reads that many bytes from a smaller allocation. Adobe has not published parser-level details beyond the classification in APSB25-114.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious file via email, web download, or removable media. When the victim opens the file with an application that loads Adobe Format Plugins, the vulnerable parser processes the crafted structures and performs the out-of-bounds read. The attacker must then observe returned data through the application interface, exported output, or a network callback embedded in the file processing workflow.

No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is available at the time of publication. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-61844

Indicators of Compromise

Delivery of unusual or unexpected files targeting Adobe Format Plugins file types from untrusted senders
Adobe host process crashes, exceptions, or abnormal termination shortly after opening a file
Outbound network connections initiated by the Adobe host process immediately after file open
Creation of new child processes or script interpreters spawned from the Adobe host process

Detection Strategies

Inventory endpoints for Adobe Format Plugins version 1.1.1 or earlier using software asset management or endpoint telemetry
Alert on file-open events for supported plugin file formats originating from browser download, email attachment, or removable media paths
Correlate application crash telemetry with recent file-open events to surface exploitation attempts against the parser
Hunt for anomalous memory read patterns in the Adobe host process using endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable process and module load logging for applications that host Adobe Format Plugins
Forward application crash dumps and Windows Error Reporting events to a central log platform for analysis
Monitor for exfiltration patterns such as small outbound HTTP or DNS requests following file-open events
Track file provenance using mark-of-the-web attributes and downloader metadata to identify high-risk opens

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-61844

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the vendor patch published in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-114 as the primary remediation
Identify and inventory all installations of Adobe Format Plugins 1.1.1 and earlier across the environment
Restrict opening of unsolicited files in the supported plugin formats until patching is complete
Communicate risk guidance to users who process external files with Adobe applications

Patch Information

Adobe released a security update addressing CVE-2025-61844 in advisory APSB25-114. Administrators should upgrade Adobe Format Plugins to the fixed version identified in the advisory. Consult the vendor page for the current fixed release and download instructions: Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-114.

Workarounds

Block file types associated with vulnerable Adobe Format Plugins at the email gateway and web proxy for high-risk user groups
Disable or unregister the Format Plugins component in environments where the plugin is not required
Enforce mark-of-the-web and Protected View style restrictions for files originating from the internet
Require users to validate file provenance before opening any Adobe format file received from an external source

bash

# Example: Windows administrators can inventory installed Adobe Format Plugins versions
# to identify hosts requiring the APSB25-114 update.
Get-WmiObject -Class Win32_Product | \
  Where-Object { $_.Name -like "*Adobe*Format*Plugin*" } | \
  Select-Object Name, Version, InstallDate