CVE-2024-20782
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Adobe InDesign that could allow arbitrary code execution when a user opens a malicious file. Attackers could gain the same privileges as the current user. All users running affected versions of InDesign are at risk.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe InDesign
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with attacker gaining the same privileges as the current user, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to data exfiltration, credential harvesting, or installation of additional malware.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper controls - potentially isolated to the InDesign process if sandboxed, but still could lead to user data compromise.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file). No public exploit code has been disclosed as of the advisory date.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: ID19.4 and ID18.5.3
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/indesign/apsb24-48.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Adobe InDesign. 2. Go to Help > Updates. 3. Follow prompts to update to version 19.4 or 18.5.3. 4. Restart InDesign after update completes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict file opening
allOnly open InDesign files from trusted sources. Implement file type restrictions.
Application sandboxing
allRun InDesign in a sandboxed environment to limit potential damage from exploitation.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized code
- Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious InDesign process behavior
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check InDesign version via Help > About InDesign. If version is 19.3 or earlier, or 18.5.2 or earlier, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
In InDesign: Help > About InDesignVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 19.4 or later, or 18.5.3 or later after applying updates.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unusual InDesign process behavior
- Multiple crash reports from InDesign
- Suspicious file opens from unusual locations
Network Indicators:
- Unexpected outbound connections from InDesign process
SIEM Query:
Process creation where parent_process contains 'InDesign' and command_line contains suspicious patterns