CVE-2025-30321 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability (CWE-476) affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions ID20.2, ID19.5.3, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the application attempts to dereference a null pointer, leading to an application crash. The root cause is a failure in the software to properly validate pointers before use. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the opening of a maliciously crafted InDesign file. When triggered, this vulnerability results in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition by crashing the InDesign application, disrupting normal workflow and potentially causing loss of unsaved work. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting that the attack vector is local (AV:L), requires low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R). The impact is limited to availability (A:H) with no confidentiality or integrity impact. There are no known exploits in the wild at this time, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability does not allow remote code execution or privilege escalation but can be leveraged to disrupt operations in environments relying heavily on Adobe InDesign for desktop publishing and design workflows.

For European organizations, particularly those in media, publishing, advertising, and creative industries that rely extensively on Adobe InDesign Desktop, this vulnerability could cause operational disruptions. A successful exploit would crash the application, leading to potential loss of productivity and unsaved work. While it does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, repeated or targeted exploitation could result in denial-of-service conditions, affecting project timelines and client deliverables. Organizations with centralized design teams or those using shared InDesign files may experience broader impact if malicious files propagate internally. The requirement for user interaction limits large-scale automated exploitation, but social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to entice users to open malicious files. Given the medium severity and lack of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate, but the potential for disruption in critical creative workflows is significant.

European organizations should implement several targeted mitigation strategies: 1) Educate users, especially designers and creative staff, about the risks of opening files from untrusted or unknown sources, emphasizing caution with email attachments and shared files. 2) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to restrict InDesign’s ability to open files only from trusted directories or sources. 3) Monitor and control file sharing platforms and collaboration tools to detect and block suspicious InDesign files. 4) Maintain strict endpoint security controls, including up-to-date antivirus and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions, to detect anomalous application crashes or suspicious file activity. 5) Implement regular backups of critical work to minimize data loss from unexpected application crashes. 6) Stay alert for official Adobe patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and prioritize their deployment once available. 7) Consider deploying network-level controls to scan and filter potentially malicious files before they reach end users. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, file handling policies, and proactive monitoring tailored to the nature of this vulnerability.