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CVE-2019-8236

9.8 CRITICAL

📋 TL;DR

CVE-2019-8236 is a security bypass vulnerability in Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application that allows attackers to escalate privileges within the current user's context. Users running Creative Cloud Desktop Application version 4.6.1 or earlier are affected. This vulnerability could enable attackers to perform actions with elevated permissions they shouldn't normally have.

💻 Affected Systems

Products:
  • Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop Application
Versions: 4.6.1 and earlier versions
Operating Systems: Windows, macOS
Default Config Vulnerable: ⚠️ Yes
Notes: Affects both Windows and macOS versions of Creative Cloud Desktop Application. Users must have the application installed and running.

📦 What is this software?

Creative Cloud by Adobe

View all CVEs affecting Creative Cloud →

⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact

🔴

Worst Case

An attacker gains full administrative control over the affected system, potentially installing malware, stealing sensitive data, or compromising other systems on the network.

🟠

Likely Case

Local attackers or malware with limited privileges could escalate to higher privileges, enabling persistence, credential theft, or lateral movement within the environment.

🟢

If Mitigated

With proper user privilege separation and application control, impact is limited to the user's own resources and data.

🌐 Internet-Facing: LOW - This is primarily a local privilege escalation vulnerability requiring some level of initial access.
🏢 Internal Only: HIGH - Once an attacker gains initial access to a system (even with limited privileges), they can exploit this to gain higher privileges.

🎯 Exploit Status

Public PoC: ✅ No
Weaponized: UNKNOWN
Unauthenticated Exploit: ✅ No
Complexity: LOW

Requires some level of initial access to the system. The vulnerability allows bypassing security controls to escalate privileges.

🛠️ Fix & Mitigation

✅ Official Fix

Patch Version: 4.7.0.400 and later

Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/creative-cloud/apsb19-39.html

Restart Required: Yes

Instructions:

1. Open Creative Cloud Desktop Application. 2. Click on the gear icon (Settings). 3. Select 'Preferences'. 4. Go to the 'Apps' tab. 5. Enable 'Allow Adobe to install updates'. 6. The application will automatically update to version 4.7.0.400 or later. 7. Restart the application.

🔧 Temporary Workarounds

Uninstall Creative Cloud Desktop Application

all

Remove the vulnerable application entirely to eliminate the risk.

Windows: Control Panel > Programs > Uninstall a program > Adobe Creative Cloud
macOS: Drag Adobe Creative Cloud from Applications folder to Trash

Restrict User Privileges

all

Run Creative Cloud with standard user privileges instead of administrative rights.

🧯 If You Can't Patch

  • Implement application control policies to restrict execution of unauthorized processes
  • Use privilege management solutions to limit user permissions and prevent privilege escalation

🔍 How to Verify

Check if Vulnerable:

Check Creative Cloud version in application settings or About dialog. If version is 4.6.1 or earlier, the system is vulnerable.

Check Version:

Windows: Check 'About Creative Cloud' in application menu. macOS: Creative Cloud menu > About Creative Cloud

Verify Fix Applied:

Verify Creative Cloud version is 4.7.0.400 or later in application settings.

📡 Detection & Monitoring

Log Indicators:

  • Unusual privilege escalation events in system logs
  • Creative Cloud processes running with unexpected permissions
  • Security bypass attempts in application logs

Network Indicators:

  • Unusual outbound connections from Creative Cloud processes
  • Communication with unexpected endpoints

SIEM Query:

Process creation events where parent process is Creative Cloud with elevated privileges, or privilege escalation events involving Creative Cloud executables

📊 Metadata

CVE ID: CVE-2019-8236
CVSS v3 Score: 9.8 (CRITICAL)
CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Published: October 23, 2019
Last Updated: November 21, 2024

🔗 References

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