CVE-2022-23190 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 25.4.3 and earlier, as well as 26.0.2 and earlier. This vulnerability allows an attacker to read memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries when a specially crafted malicious file is opened by the user. The out-of-bounds read can lead to disclosure of sensitive memory contents, potentially exposing confidential information stored in memory. Additionally, the vulnerability can be leveraged to bypass security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which is designed to make exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities more difficult by randomizing memory addresses. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a malicious Illustrator file. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided information. The vulnerability is categorized as medium severity by the vendor, reflecting the need for user interaction and the nature of the impact being information disclosure rather than direct code execution or system compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-23190 primarily concerns confidentiality risks. Organizations that rely heavily on Adobe Illustrator for graphic design, marketing, publishing, or creative content production could be at risk if employees open maliciously crafted Illustrator files. The out-of-bounds read could expose sensitive data in memory, including potentially credentials, encryption keys, or other confidential information temporarily loaded in the application's memory space. While this vulnerability does not directly allow remote code execution or system takeover, the ability to bypass ASLR could facilitate further exploitation chains if combined with other vulnerabilities. This makes it a potential stepping stone for more severe attacks. Industries such as media, advertising, publishing, and any sector with intellectual property or sensitive design assets are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for user interaction limits the attack vector to targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns. However, given the widespread use of Adobe Illustrator in creative and corporate environments, the threat could be leveraged in spear-phishing attacks aimed at high-value targets within European organizations.

1. Update Adobe Illustrator to the latest available version as soon as Adobe releases a patch addressing CVE-2022-23190. Regularly monitor Adobe security advisories for updates. 2. Implement strict email and file attachment filtering to detect and block suspicious or unexpected Illustrator files, especially from unknown or untrusted sources. 3. Educate users, particularly those in creative departments, about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected files, emphasizing caution with Illustrator files received via email or external sources. 4. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to restrict the execution context of Adobe Illustrator, limiting its ability to access sensitive system resources or memory. 5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for unusual memory access patterns or attempts to bypass ASLR, which could indicate exploitation attempts. 6. Consider network segmentation to isolate systems running Adobe Illustrator from critical infrastructure to reduce lateral movement risk if exploitation occurs. 7. Maintain regular backups of critical data and design assets to mitigate potential impacts from exploitation or follow-on attacks.