CVE-2022-30667 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe Illustrator versions 26.0.2 and earlier, as well as 25.4.5 and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly handles memory boundaries, allowing an attacker to read memory locations outside the intended buffer. Such out-of-bounds reads can lead to the disclosure of sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions. In this particular case, the vulnerability could be exploited to bypass security mitigations like Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), which is designed to randomize memory addresses to prevent reliable exploitation of memory corruption bugs. The exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a maliciously crafted Illustrator file. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of this analysis, and Adobe has not yet published official patches. The vulnerability primarily threatens confidentiality by potentially exposing sensitive memory contents, but it does not directly allow code execution or modification of data. The attack vector is limited to scenarios where users open untrusted or malicious Illustrator files, which is a common workflow in creative and design environments. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is unlikely to cause denial of service or integrity violations directly, but it can be a stepping stone in more complex attack chains that leverage leaked memory information to facilitate further exploitation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-30667 is primarily related to confidentiality breaches. Organizations in sectors such as media, advertising, publishing, and design that rely heavily on Adobe Illustrator for graphic design work are at risk if employees open malicious files. Sensitive information in memory could be disclosed, potentially including cryptographic keys, credentials, or proprietary data, depending on what resides in the affected memory regions. While the vulnerability does not directly enable remote code execution, bypassing ASLR can facilitate subsequent exploitation steps, increasing the risk of more severe attacks. This can be particularly concerning for organizations handling sensitive intellectual property or personal data under GDPR regulations, as data leakage could lead to compliance violations and reputational damage. The requirement for user interaction limits the scope somewhat, but targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files. The absence of known exploits in the wild reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time. Overall, the vulnerability poses a moderate risk to confidentiality and could be leveraged in multi-stage attacks against European organizations with significant use of Adobe Illustrator.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on user awareness and training to avoid opening Illustrator files from untrusted or unknown sources. 2. Implement strict email filtering and attachment scanning to detect and block potentially malicious Illustrator files. 3. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior related to file parsing or memory access within Adobe Illustrator. 4. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to isolate Illustrator processes, limiting the impact of any exploitation attempt. 5. Monitor network and host logs for unusual activity that could indicate attempts to exploit this vulnerability or follow-on attacks. 6. Maintain a robust patch management process and apply Adobe updates promptly once patches for this vulnerability become available. 7. Consider restricting Illustrator usage to necessary personnel and environments, reducing the attack surface. 8. For organizations with sensitive data, implement data loss prevention (DLP) controls to detect and prevent unauthorized data exfiltration that could result from memory disclosure. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling file sources, isolating the application environment, and enhancing detection capabilities specific to Illustrator file handling.