CVE-2025-30318
📋 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. Affected users include anyone running vulnerable versions of InDesign Desktop on Windows or macOS. The vulnerability requires user interaction through file opening.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe InDesign Desktop
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete 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 payloads.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and user privilege restrictions, potentially only affecting the InDesign process.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file). No public exploit code available at this time.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: ID19.5.3 and ID20.3
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/indesign/apsb25-37.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Adobe Creative Cloud application. 2. Navigate to 'Apps' section. 3. Find InDesign and click 'Update'. 4. Alternatively, download updated version from Adobe website. 5. Restart computer after installation.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict InDesign file handling
allConfigure system to open InDesign files with caution or use alternative applications for untrusted files
Application sandboxing
allRun InDesign in restricted environments or virtual machines when handling untrusted files
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file handling policies: only open InDesign files from trusted sources
- Use application control solutions to restrict InDesign's network and system access
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check InDesign version via Help > About InDesign. If version is ID19.5.2 or earlier, or ID20.2 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
On Windows: Check via Control Panel > Programs. On macOS: Check via About This Mac > System Report > Applications.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify version is ID19.5.3 or later, or ID20.3 or later after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Unexpected InDesign crashes
- Suspicious file opening events in application logs
- Unusual process spawning from InDesign
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from InDesign to unknown IPs
- DNS requests for suspicious domains after file opening
SIEM Query:
Process Creation where Image contains 'indesign' AND ParentImage contains 'explorer' OR ParentImage contains 'finder'