CVE-2022-28855: Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125) in Adobe InDesign
Adobe InDesign versions 16.4.2 (and earlier) and 17.3 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that could lead to disclosure of sensitive memory. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass mitigations such as ASLR. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2022-28855 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe InDesign versions 16.4.2 and earlier, as well as 17.3 and earlier. This vulnerability allows an attacker to read memory outside the intended buffer boundaries, potentially disclosing sensitive information from the process memory space. Such information disclosure can be leveraged to bypass security mitigations like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which is designed to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities by randomizing memory addresses. The exploitation vector requires user interaction, specifically that a victim opens a maliciously crafted InDesign file. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided data. The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive memory contents, but does not directly allow code execution or integrity compromise. The attack complexity is moderate since it requires crafting a malicious file and convincing a user to open it. The scope is limited to systems running the affected Adobe InDesign versions, which are widely used in creative industries for desktop publishing and design. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is unlikely to cause denial of service or direct system compromise without further chaining with other vulnerabilities. However, the ability to bypass ASLR could facilitate more advanced exploitation scenarios if combined with other vulnerabilities.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-28855 is primarily on confidentiality and the potential for targeted information disclosure. Organizations in sectors heavily reliant on Adobe InDesign, such as media, publishing, advertising, and creative agencies, could be at risk of sensitive data leakage if attackers deliver malicious InDesign files via email or shared networks. The bypass of ASLR could also lower the barrier for attackers to exploit additional vulnerabilities on compromised systems, potentially leading to privilege escalation or remote code execution in multi-stage attacks. While no widespread exploitation is reported, the risk remains for spear-phishing campaigns targeting high-value individuals or organizations. The impact on availability and integrity is minimal in isolation, but the vulnerability could be a stepping stone in more complex attack chains. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider the risk of sensitive data exposure and potential compliance implications if such a vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediate mitigation should include educating users, especially those in creative and publishing roles, to avoid opening InDesign files from untrusted or unknown sources. 2. Implement strict email filtering and sandboxing to detect and block potentially malicious attachments, including InDesign files. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual file access or memory reading behaviors associated with Adobe InDesign processes. 4. Restrict the use of Adobe InDesign to only necessary personnel and enforce the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of any potential exploitation. 5. Monitor Adobe's official security advisories and apply patches promptly once available, as no patch links were provided at the time of this analysis. 6. Consider network segmentation to isolate systems running Adobe InDesign from sensitive or critical infrastructure to reduce lateral movement risk. 7. Use application whitelisting and control execution policies to prevent unauthorized or unexpected execution of files. 8. Regularly audit and update software inventories to ensure all Adobe InDesign installations are tracked and managed for timely updates.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Netherlands, Italy, Spain, Sweden, Belgium
CVE-2022-28855: Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125) in Adobe InDesign
Description
Adobe InDesign versions 16.4.2 (and earlier) and 17.3 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that could lead to disclosure of sensitive memory. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass mitigations such as ASLR. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2022-28855 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe InDesign versions 16.4.2 and earlier, as well as 17.3 and earlier. This vulnerability allows an attacker to read memory outside the intended buffer boundaries, potentially disclosing sensitive information from the process memory space. Such information disclosure can be leveraged to bypass security mitigations like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which is designed to prevent exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities by randomizing memory addresses. The exploitation vector requires user interaction, specifically that a victim opens a maliciously crafted InDesign file. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided data. The vulnerability primarily impacts confidentiality by exposing sensitive memory contents, but does not directly allow code execution or integrity compromise. The attack complexity is moderate since it requires crafting a malicious file and convincing a user to open it. The scope is limited to systems running the affected Adobe InDesign versions, which are widely used in creative industries for desktop publishing and design. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is unlikely to cause denial of service or direct system compromise without further chaining with other vulnerabilities. However, the ability to bypass ASLR could facilitate more advanced exploitation scenarios if combined with other vulnerabilities.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-28855 is primarily on confidentiality and the potential for targeted information disclosure. Organizations in sectors heavily reliant on Adobe InDesign, such as media, publishing, advertising, and creative agencies, could be at risk of sensitive data leakage if attackers deliver malicious InDesign files via email or shared networks. The bypass of ASLR could also lower the barrier for attackers to exploit additional vulnerabilities on compromised systems, potentially leading to privilege escalation or remote code execution in multi-stage attacks. While no widespread exploitation is reported, the risk remains for spear-phishing campaigns targeting high-value individuals or organizations. The impact on availability and integrity is minimal in isolation, but the vulnerability could be a stepping stone in more complex attack chains. European organizations with strict data protection regulations (e.g., GDPR) must consider the risk of sensitive data exposure and potential compliance implications if such a vulnerability is exploited.
Mitigation Recommendations
1. Immediate mitigation should include educating users, especially those in creative and publishing roles, to avoid opening InDesign files from untrusted or unknown sources. 2. Implement strict email filtering and sandboxing to detect and block potentially malicious attachments, including InDesign files. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of monitoring unusual file access or memory reading behaviors associated with Adobe InDesign processes. 4. Restrict the use of Adobe InDesign to only necessary personnel and enforce the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of any potential exploitation. 5. Monitor Adobe's official security advisories and apply patches promptly once available, as no patch links were provided at the time of this analysis. 6. Consider network segmentation to isolate systems running Adobe InDesign from sensitive or critical infrastructure to reduce lateral movement risk. 7. Use application whitelisting and control execution policies to prevent unauthorized or unexpected execution of files. 8. Regularly audit and update software inventories to ensure all Adobe InDesign installations are tracked and managed for timely updates.
Affected Countries
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- adobe
- Date Reserved
- 2022-04-08T00:00:00.000Z
- Cisa Enriched
- true
Threat ID: 682d9845c4522896dcbf3ef3
Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:09:25 AM
Last enriched: 6/22/2025, 9:35:00 PM
Last updated: 8/3/2025, 6:30:47 AM
Views: 13
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