CVE-2026-76192: Adobe InDesign NULL Pointer DoS Vulnerability

CVE-2026-76192 Overview

CVE-2026-76192 is a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability [CWE-476] in Adobe InDesign Desktop. The flaw allows an attacker to trigger an application crash, producing a denial-of-service condition. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious file crafted by the attacker.

The issue affects the availability of the application but does not impact confidentiality or integrity. Adobe disclosed the vulnerability in security bulletin APSB26-145. Because exploitation requires local access and user interaction, the attack surface is limited to workflows where users open untrusted InDesign documents.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation crashes Adobe InDesign Desktop, disrupting design workflows and potentially causing loss of unsaved work when users open a maliciously crafted file.

Affected Products

Adobe InDesign Desktop (see Adobe advisory APSB26-145 for affected version ranges)
Refer to the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory for version-specific details

Discovery Timeline

2026-09-22 - CVE-2026-76192 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
2026-09-22 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-76192

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a NULL pointer dereference in Adobe InDesign Desktop, classified under [CWE-476]. When InDesign parses a specially crafted document, code paths reach a pointer that has not been initialized or has been set to NULL. Dereferencing that pointer terminates the process.

The impact is confined to application availability. Confidentiality and integrity are unaffected, and no code execution has been reported. Exploitation requires the victim to open a malicious file, which limits the attack to social-engineering delivery scenarios such as phishing emails, shared cloud folders, or malicious file exchanges within creative teams.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing validation of a pointer before dereference during file parsing. InDesign processes complex, structured document formats containing embedded objects, styles, and linked resources. When one of these structures resolves to a NULL pointer through malformed or unexpected input, the reference operation triggers an access violation and the process terminates.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious InDesign document and delivers it to the target through email, messaging, or file-sharing services. When the victim opens the file in InDesign Desktop, the parser reaches the vulnerable code path and crashes the application. Repeated distribution of the malicious file can create sustained disruption in design and publishing workflows.

No public proof-of-concept exploit or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported for this issue as of publication. See the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory for technical acknowledgments and fixed version information.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-76192

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes of the InDesign.exe process shortly after a user opens a document from an untrusted source
Windows Application event log entries showing access violation faults in the InDesign process
macOS crash reports referencing InDesign with EXC_BAD_ACCESS signals tied to a null address
Presence of unsolicited .indd, .indt, .idml, or related InDesign files delivered via email or shared drives

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for repeated InDesign process terminations correlated with document-open events
Correlate email or file-transfer telemetry with subsequent application crash events on the same host
Hunt for InDesign document files originating from external senders that are opened by users in creative or marketing roles

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable crash reporting and forward application crash telemetry to a centralized logging platform
Track version inventory of Adobe InDesign Desktop across managed endpoints to identify unpatched installs
Alert on delivery of InDesign file types from external sources to high-value users

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-76192

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe security update referenced in advisory APSB26-145 to all affected InDesign Desktop installations
Inventory endpoints running InDesign Desktop and prioritize patching for users who frequently receive external documents
Advise users to avoid opening InDesign files received from untrusted or unverified senders

Patch Information

Adobe has published fixes and version guidance in the Adobe InDesign Security Advisory (APSB26-145). Administrators should review the advisory for the specific fixed versions and deploy them through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of InDesign documents to files sourced from trusted internal repositories
Use email and web gateway policies to inspect or quarantine inbound InDesign file types from external senders
Educate users on the social-engineering delivery pattern required to exploit this vulnerability

bash

# Example: verify installed Adobe InDesign version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\InDesign" /s /f "Version"

# Example: verify installed Adobe InDesign version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe InDesign <version>/Adobe InDesign <version>.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString