CVE-2025-27166 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability classified under CWE-787 affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions ID20.1, ID19.5.2, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly handles memory boundaries during the processing of InDesign files, allowing an attacker to overwrite memory outside the intended buffer. Such memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user. The attack vector requires the victim to open a maliciously crafted InDesign file, making user interaction mandatory. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, indicating high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability affects creative professionals and organizations relying on Adobe InDesign for desktop publishing, potentially allowing attackers to execute arbitrary code, steal sensitive information, or disrupt operations. The lack of patches necessitates proactive mitigation strategies until Adobe releases an official fix.

The vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations worldwide that use Adobe InDesign Desktop, particularly in creative, publishing, marketing, and media sectors. Exploitation can lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to compromise affected systems with the privileges of the current user. This can result in data theft, installation of malware, lateral movement within networks, and disruption of business operations. Since the attack requires user interaction, social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to deliver malicious InDesign files. The impact extends to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems and data. Organizations with high reliance on Adobe InDesign for content creation and publishing workflows are at elevated risk, especially if users frequently open files from external or untrusted sources. The absence of patches increases the window of exposure, making timely mitigation critical.

1. Educate users to avoid opening InDesign files from untrusted or unknown sources, especially unsolicited email attachments or downloads. 2. Implement strict email filtering and attachment scanning to detect and block potentially malicious InDesign files. 3. Use endpoint protection solutions with behavior-based detection to identify suspicious activities related to InDesign processes. 4. Employ application whitelisting to restrict execution of unauthorized code and scripts. 5. Isolate systems used for opening external InDesign files in sandboxed or virtualized environments to limit potential damage. 6. Monitor system and network logs for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 7. Maintain regular backups of critical data to enable recovery in case of compromise. 8. Stay informed about Adobe’s security advisories and apply patches immediately once available. 9. Consider disabling or restricting InDesign file handling capabilities temporarily in high-risk environments until a patch is released. 10. Coordinate with IT and security teams to develop incident response plans specific to this vulnerability.