CVE-2024-49545
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe InDesign that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system. The vulnerability affects users of InDesign Desktop versions ID19.5, ID18.5.4 and earlier. Exploitation requires the victim to open a maliciously crafted file.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe InDesign Desktop
📦 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 lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Local code execution leading to malware installation, credential theft, or data exfiltration from the affected workstation.
If Mitigated
No impact if users don't open untrusted files and proper endpoint security controls are in place.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file) and knowledge of heap manipulation techniques.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: ID19.5.1 and ID18.5.5
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/indesign/apsb24-97.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Adobe InDesign. 2. Go to Help > Updates. 3. Follow prompts to install available updates. 4. Alternatively, download and install the latest version from Adobe Creative Cloud.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict file opening
allConfigure application control policies to restrict opening of untrusted InDesign files
User awareness training
allTrain users to only open InDesign files from trusted sources
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to block execution of malicious code
- Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious InDesign process behavior
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check InDesign version via Help > About InDesign. If version is ID19.5 or earlier, or ID18.5.4 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
On Windows: Check via Control Panel > Programs > Programs and Features. On macOS: Check via Adobe InDesign > About InDesign.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify version is ID19.5.1 or later, or ID18.5.5 or later after applying updates.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected InDesign crashes
- Unusual file access patterns from InDesign process
- Creation of suspicious child processes from InDesign
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from InDesign process to unknown IPs
- DNS queries for suspicious domains from InDesign
SIEM Query:
process_name:"InDesign.exe" AND (event_type:crash OR child_process_name:("cmd.exe", "powershell.exe", "wscript.exe"))