CVE-2022-30647 is a Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability identified in Adobe Illustrator versions 26.0.2 and earlier, as well as 25.4.5 and earlier. Use-After-Free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use a pointer after the memory it points to has been freed, potentially leading to memory corruption. In this case, the vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a maliciously crafted Illustrator file. Once triggered, the vulnerability could enable an attacker to run code that may compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-416, indicating a classic use-after-free flaw. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting, and no official patches have been linked, suggesting that mitigation relies heavily on user awareness and defensive controls until updates are available. The vulnerability affects widely used versions of Adobe Illustrator, a popular vector graphics editor used by creative professionals and enterprises globally. Given the nature of the vulnerability, an attacker could craft a malicious Illustrator file that, when opened, triggers the use-after-free condition, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution without requiring elevated privileges. This could allow attackers to install malware, steal data, or disrupt operations under the permissions of the logged-in user.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability could be significant, particularly for industries relying heavily on Adobe Illustrator for design and creative workflows, such as advertising agencies, media companies, publishing houses, and manufacturing firms with design departments. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, enabling attackers to deploy malware, conduct espionage, or disrupt business processes. Since the attack requires user interaction (opening a malicious file), social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to deliver the payload, increasing the risk of targeted attacks. The compromise of design files or intellectual property could result in financial losses and reputational damage. Additionally, if the compromised user has access to sensitive internal systems or networks, lateral movement and further exploitation could occur. The medium severity rating reflects the need for user action and the limitation to the current user's privileges, but the widespread use of Adobe Illustrator in European creative sectors elevates the risk profile. Organizations with less mature cybersecurity awareness or lacking endpoint protection may be more vulnerable to exploitation.

1. Immediate user education and awareness campaigns should be conducted to alert users about the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious Illustrator files, especially those received via email or untrusted sources. 2. Implement strict email filtering and attachment scanning to detect and block potentially malicious Illustrator files before they reach end users. 3. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to restrict the execution context of Adobe Illustrator and limit the impact of any potential exploitation. 4. Monitor for unusual process behavior or memory anomalies associated with Illustrator to detect exploitation attempts early. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical design files and systems to enable recovery in case of compromise. 6. Regularly check Adobe’s security advisories and apply patches promptly once available, as no official patch was linked at the time of this report. 7. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying exploitation techniques related to use-after-free vulnerabilities. 8. Limit user privileges where possible to reduce the impact of code execution under the current user context. 9. Consider network segmentation to isolate creative workstations from sensitive internal networks to prevent lateral movement.