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CVE-2022-35713: Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) in Adobe Photoshop

Medium
Published: Fri Sep 16 2022 (09/16/2022, 17:16:40 UTC)
Source: CVE
Vendor/Project: Adobe
Product: Photoshop

Description

Adobe Photoshop versions 22.5.8 (and earlier) and 23.4.2 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.

AI-Powered Analysis

AILast updated: 06/22/2025, 20:34:49 UTC

Technical Analysis

CVE-2022-35713 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) affecting Adobe Photoshop versions 22.5.8 and earlier, as well as 23.4.2 and earlier. This vulnerability arises when Photoshop improperly handles memory boundaries during processing of certain image files, leading to the possibility of writing data outside the allocated buffer. Such out-of-bounds writes can corrupt memory, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a crafted malicious file designed to trigger the vulnerability. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and Adobe has not provided direct patch links in the provided data, though it is typical for Adobe to release security updates addressing such issues. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling code execution that could lead to data theft, system compromise, or denial of service. However, exploitation complexity is increased due to the need for user action and the absence of remote exploitation vectors without user involvement.

Potential Impact

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially in sectors heavily reliant on Adobe Photoshop for digital content creation, such as media, advertising, design, and publishing industries. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive data, lateral movement within corporate networks, or deployment of malware including ransomware. Given that Photoshop is widely used on workstations, a compromised endpoint could serve as an entry point for broader network compromise. The requirement for user interaction reduces the risk of widespread automated attacks but does not eliminate targeted spear-phishing or social engineering campaigns. Organizations with less mature endpoint security or insufficient user awareness training may be more vulnerable. Additionally, the vulnerability could be leveraged in espionage or sabotage campaigns targeting intellectual property or critical infrastructure sectors that utilize Photoshop for operational purposes.

Mitigation Recommendations

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Prioritize updating Adobe Photoshop to the latest available version as soon as Adobe releases a patch addressing CVE-2022-35713. 2) Implement strict email and file filtering to block or quarantine suspicious image files, especially those received from untrusted or external sources. 3) Enhance user awareness training focusing on the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected files, particularly image files, and encourage verification of file sources. 4) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to restrict Photoshop's ability to execute arbitrary code or interact with critical system components. 5) Monitor endpoint behavior for unusual activities indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process spawning or memory corruption alerts. 6) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting exploitation patterns related to out-of-bounds writes or anomalous Photoshop behavior. 7) Review and enforce least privilege principles to limit the impact of potential code execution within user contexts. These measures, combined, reduce the attack surface and improve detection and response capabilities.

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Technical Details

Data Version
5.1
Assigner Short Name
adobe
Date Reserved
2022-07-12T00:00:00.000Z
Cisa Enriched
true

Threat ID: 682d9845c4522896dcbf3fba

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

Last enriched: 6/22/2025, 8:34:49 PM

Last updated: 7/26/2025, 9:05:06 PM

Views: 13

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