CVE-2022-30668 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 Adobe Illustrator improperly handles memory bounds while processing certain data structures, allowing an attacker to read memory locations outside the intended buffer. The consequence of this flaw is the potential disclosure of sensitive memory contents, which could include sensitive application data or system information. Notably, this vulnerability can be leveraged to bypass security mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), a common defense mechanism designed to prevent exploitation of memory corruption bugs. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a crafted malicious Illustrator file. There are no known exploits in the wild reported to date, and no official patches or updates linked in the provided information, indicating that remediation may rely on future Adobe updates or workarounds. The vulnerability is categorized as medium severity by the source, reflecting its impact and exploitation complexity. The technical nature of the vulnerability suggests it is primarily a confidentiality risk, as it allows reading of memory but does not indicate direct code execution or privilege escalation. However, by leaking memory layout information, it could facilitate more advanced attacks if combined with other vulnerabilities.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-30668 centers on the potential exposure of sensitive information through memory disclosure. Organizations relying heavily on Adobe Illustrator for design, publishing, or creative workflows—such as media companies, advertising agencies, and manufacturing firms—could face risks if attackers craft malicious files targeting employees. Disclosure of memory contents could reveal confidential project data, intellectual property, or internal system details that may aid further attacks. While the vulnerability does not directly enable remote code execution, the ability to bypass ASLR can lower the barrier for subsequent exploitation chains, increasing overall risk. Given the requirement for user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns distributing malicious Illustrator files could be an attack vector. This risk is heightened in environments where users have broad access rights or where network segmentation is weak. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate threat but does not eliminate future risk, especially as attackers often weaponize such vulnerabilities once publicly disclosed. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate impact, but organizations with high-value design assets or sensitive intellectual property should consider this vulnerability a significant concern.

1. Implement strict email and file filtering to detect and block suspicious or unsolicited Adobe Illustrator files, especially from unknown or untrusted sources. 2. Educate users on the risks of opening files from unverified origins and train them to recognize phishing attempts that may deliver malicious Illustrator files. 3. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing for Adobe Illustrator to limit the impact of potential exploitation and prevent unauthorized file execution. 4. Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual behavior related to Adobe Illustrator processes, such as unexpected memory access patterns or crashes. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical design files and intellectual property to mitigate potential data loss from exploitation attempts. 6. Coordinate with Adobe for timely patch deployment once official fixes are released; in the interim, consider restricting Illustrator usage to trusted files only. 7. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools capable of detecting anomalous memory reads or exploitation attempts targeting Adobe products. 8. Limit user privileges on workstations running Adobe Illustrator to reduce the potential impact of exploitation.