CVE-2025-49564
📋 TL;DR
A stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Illustrator allows arbitrary code execution when a user opens a malicious file. This affects Illustrator versions 28.7.8, 29.6.1 and earlier. Attackers can gain the same privileges as the current user through crafted document files.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Illustrator
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Complete system compromise with attacker gaining full control of the user's system and potentially moving laterally within the network.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or persistent backdoor installation on the affected workstation.
If Mitigated
Limited to user-level access with no administrative privileges, potentially contained by application sandboxing or endpoint protection.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file). Buffer overflow exploitation requires specific file crafting knowledge.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Update to Illustrator version 29.6.2 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/illustrator/apsb25-74.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Adobe Creative Cloud application. 2. Navigate to 'Apps' section. 3. Find Adobe Illustrator and click 'Update'. 4. Wait for download and installation. 5. Restart Illustrator when prompted.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict Illustrator file execution
allBlock execution of Illustrator files from untrusted sources via application control policies
Use application sandboxing
allRun Illustrator in sandboxed environment to limit potential damage from exploitation
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement strict file opening policies - only open Illustrator files from trusted sources
- Deploy endpoint protection with behavioral analysis to detect buffer overflow attempts
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Illustrator version via Help > About Illustrator. If version is 28.7.8, 29.6.1 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
On Windows: Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Illustrator\*' | Select-Object Version. On macOS: defaults read /Applications/Adobe\ Illustrator*/Contents/Info.plist CFBundleShortVersionStringVerify Fix Applied:
Verify Illustrator version is 29.6.2 or later after update. Check Creative Cloud for update completion status.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Illustrator crash logs with memory access violations
- Unexpected Illustrator process spawning child processes
- Multiple failed file opening attempts
Network Indicators:
- Outbound connections from Illustrator process to unknown IPs post-file opening
- DNS queries for suspicious domains from Illustrator
SIEM Query:
source="illustrator.log" AND ("access violation" OR "buffer overflow" OR "stack corruption")