CVE-2025-43592 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 19.5.3 and earlier. The vulnerability is classified as an Access of Uninitialized Pointer (CWE-824), which occurs when the software accesses memory that has not been properly initialized. This can lead to unpredictable behavior, including arbitrary code execution. Specifically, an attacker can craft a malicious InDesign file that, when opened by a user, triggers the vulnerability and allows the attacker to execute code with the privileges of the current user. The vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning the victim must open the malicious file for exploitation to occur. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. The attack vector is local (AV:L), indicating that the attacker must have some form of access to deliver the malicious file, but no elevated privileges are needed. The vulnerability affects the core functionality of Adobe InDesign Desktop, a widely used desktop publishing software, which is prevalent in creative industries, marketing, and publishing sectors. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or updates have been linked yet, indicating that organizations should prioritize monitoring and prepare for imminent patch deployment from Adobe. The vulnerability's exploitation could lead to significant compromise of user systems, including data theft, system manipulation, or further malware deployment within an affected environment.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-43592 could be substantial, especially for those in media, publishing, advertising, and design sectors where Adobe InDesign is heavily utilized. Successful exploitation could result in unauthorized access to sensitive design files, intellectual property theft, and potential lateral movement within corporate networks if the compromised user account has network privileges. The arbitrary code execution capability could allow attackers to install persistent malware, exfiltrate confidential data, or disrupt business operations. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, organizations could face operational downtime, reputational damage, and regulatory consequences under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The requirement for user interaction (opening a malicious file) suggests that social engineering or phishing campaigns could be vectors for exploitation, increasing risk in environments with less stringent user awareness training. Additionally, the lack of current patches means organizations must rely on interim mitigations, increasing exposure until updates are available.

1. Implement strict email and file filtering to block or quarantine suspicious attachments, particularly InDesign files from untrusted sources. 2. Enhance user awareness training focusing on the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected files, emphasizing the specific threat of malicious InDesign documents. 3. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to restrict Adobe InDesign's ability to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive system resources. 4. Monitor endpoint behavior for unusual activities indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process launches or network connections originating from InDesign processes. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical design and business data to enable recovery in case of compromise. 6. Prepare for rapid deployment of Adobe patches once released by establishing a vulnerability management process that prioritizes this update. 7. Restrict user privileges to the minimum necessary to reduce the impact of code execution under user context. 8. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect and respond to exploitation attempts promptly.