CVE-2025-54212 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.4, 19.5.4, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the application improperly handles memory allocation on the heap during the processing of certain input data, specifically when opening crafted malicious files. The flaw allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory regions, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, as the victim must open a malicious InDesign file to trigger the vulnerability. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) shows that the attack vector is local (requiring user interaction), with low attack complexity and no privileges required. Successful exploitation can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability by enabling full control over the affected application and potentially the underlying system. No public exploits are known at this time, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that organizations should prioritize monitoring and mitigation efforts. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-122, which is a common weakness related to improper memory management leading to buffer overflows on the heap.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54212 could be significant, especially for those heavily reliant on Adobe InDesign Desktop for publishing, marketing, and creative content production. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing attackers to deploy malware, steal sensitive intellectual property, or disrupt business operations. Given that the vulnerability requires user interaction, targeted spear-phishing campaigns or malicious file distribution could be effective attack vectors. This poses a risk to media companies, advertising agencies, design firms, and any enterprise using InDesign for document creation. The compromise of user accounts could lead to lateral movement within corporate networks, data exfiltration, or ransomware deployment. Additionally, the high confidentiality and integrity impact ratings imply that sensitive design documents and proprietary content could be exposed or altered, damaging business reputation and competitive advantage. The availability impact also suggests potential denial of service conditions if the application crashes or becomes unstable after exploitation.

Organizations should implement a multi-layered defense strategy. First, they must enforce strict user awareness training to recognize and avoid opening suspicious or unsolicited InDesign files, reducing the likelihood of user interaction exploitation. Employing email filtering and attachment sandboxing can help detect and block malicious files before reaching end users. Until Adobe releases an official patch, organizations should consider restricting or monitoring the use of vulnerable InDesign versions, possibly isolating them in controlled environments or virtual machines. Application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions should be configured to detect anomalous behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. Regular backups of critical design files should be maintained to enable recovery in case of compromise. Additionally, organizations should monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploit code or indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability to respond promptly. Once Adobe issues a patch, rapid deployment is essential to close the vulnerability window.