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CVE-2022-30671: Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125) in Adobe InDesign

Medium
Published: Fri Sep 16 2022 (09/16/2022, 17:20:14 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: Adobe
Product: 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

AILast updated: 06/22/2025, 21:21:35 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2022-30671 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 application's memory space. Such information disclosure can include data that could 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 requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a maliciously crafted InDesign file. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of reporting. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication but depends on social engineering to convince a user to open a malicious file. The impact is primarily on confidentiality due to potential leakage of sensitive memory contents. Since this is a read-only vulnerability, it does not directly affect integrity or availability. The lack of a patch link suggests that remediation may require updating to a fixed version once available or applying recommended security best practices. Given that Adobe InDesign is widely used in creative industries for desktop publishing, the vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against organizations handling sensitive design documents or intellectual property.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-30671 centers on the potential exposure of sensitive information stored in memory during the processing of InDesign files. This could include proprietary design data, confidential client information, or internal metadata. Organizations in sectors such as media, advertising, publishing, and design agencies are particularly at risk due to their reliance on Adobe InDesign. Disclosure of memory contents could facilitate further attacks, including privilege escalation or bypassing ASLR, increasing the risk of more severe exploitation. While no active exploits are currently known, the requirement for user interaction means phishing or spear-phishing campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files. The medium severity rating reflects the limited scope of impact (confidentiality only) and the need for user action, but the potential for escalation if combined with other vulnerabilities or attack vectors remains a concern. European organizations with remote or hybrid workforces may face increased risk if users open malicious files outside controlled environments. Additionally, regulatory frameworks such as GDPR impose strict requirements on protecting sensitive data, so any leakage could have compliance implications.

Mitigation Recommendations

1. Apply the latest Adobe InDesign updates as soon as patches addressing CVE-2022-30671 become available. Monitor Adobe security advisories closely. 2. Implement strict email and file filtering to block or flag unsolicited InDesign files, especially from unknown or untrusted sources. 3. Educate users about the risks of opening files from untrusted origins and train them to recognize phishing attempts that may deliver malicious InDesign documents. 4. Use endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior related to Adobe InDesign processes, including memory access patterns. 5. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to restrict the execution environment of InDesign, limiting the potential impact of exploitation. 6. Enforce network segmentation to isolate systems used for handling sensitive design files, reducing lateral movement opportunities. 7. Regularly audit and monitor logs for unusual activity related to InDesign usage. 8. Consider disabling or restricting the use of InDesign on systems where it is not essential, minimizing the attack surface. 9. Coordinate with IT and security teams to ensure rapid incident response capabilities in case exploitation attempts are detected.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
adobe
Date Reserved
2022-05-12T00:00:00.000Z
Cisa Enriched
true

Threat ID: 682d9845c4522896dcbf3f23

Added to database: 5/21/2025, 9:09:25 AM

Last enriched: 6/22/2025, 9:21:35 PM

Last updated: 7/31/2025, 10:47:54 AM

Views: 10

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