CVE-2022-23189 is a vulnerability identified in Adobe Illustrator versions 25.4.3 and earlier, as well as 26.0.2 and earlier. The flaw is classified as a Null Pointer Dereference (CWE-476), which occurs when the software attempts to access or dereference a pointer that has a null value. This leads to an application crash, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition within the context of the current user. The vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker, but exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a maliciously crafted Illustrator file. Upon opening such a file, the application attempts to process the file and encounters the null pointer dereference, causing it to crash and deny service to the user. There are no known exploits in the wild currently, and no patches or updates have been explicitly linked in the provided information. The vulnerability does not allow for privilege escalation, remote code execution, or data exfiltration, but it disrupts availability of the application for legitimate users. Since Adobe Illustrator is a widely used vector graphics editor in creative industries, this vulnerability could impact workflows where Illustrator is critical. The attack vector is limited by the need for user interaction and the requirement to open a malicious file, which reduces the likelihood of automated or widespread exploitation. However, targeted attacks against users in design, publishing, or marketing roles could leverage this to disrupt operations.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2022-23189 is operational disruption due to denial-of-service conditions in Adobe Illustrator. Organizations relying heavily on Illustrator for design, marketing, publishing, or product development could face productivity losses if users are forced to repeatedly restart the application or lose unsaved work. This could delay project timelines and increase operational costs. Since the vulnerability does not lead to data compromise or privilege escalation, the confidentiality and integrity of organizational data are not directly threatened. However, repeated application crashes could indirectly affect data integrity if unsaved work is lost. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious Illustrator files, posing a risk especially in environments with less stringent email or file handling policies. Industries such as advertising agencies, media companies, and manufacturing firms with in-house design teams in Europe may be more affected. Additionally, organizations with remote or hybrid workforces may face increased risk if users open files from untrusted sources outside controlled network environments.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2022-23189, European organizations should implement several targeted measures beyond generic patching advice: 1) Enforce strict email and file attachment filtering policies to block or quarantine suspicious Illustrator files, especially those from unknown or untrusted sources. 2) Educate users in design and creative roles about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected Illustrator files and encourage verification of file sources before opening. 3) Implement application whitelisting or sandboxing for Adobe Illustrator to limit the impact of crashes and prevent malicious files from affecting other system components. 4) Regularly back up ongoing work and encourage frequent saving to minimize data loss from unexpected application crashes. 5) Monitor Adobe’s security advisories closely for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and prioritize timely deployment once available. 6) Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools that can detect abnormal Illustrator process crashes or unusual file access patterns indicative of exploitation attempts. 7) For organizations with centralized IT management, restrict the ability to open Illustrator files from network shares or external drives unless verified. 8) Review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving application denial-of-service affecting critical design tools.