CVE-2025-54214 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.4, 19.5.4, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly handles memory bounds during file processing, allowing an attacker to read memory outside the intended buffer. The consequence is the potential disclosure of sensitive memory contents, which could include confidential information or data that might aid further exploitation. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a maliciously crafted InDesign file. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access or deliver the malicious file to the victim. No privileges are required (PR:N), but user interaction (UI:R) is necessary. The impact is limited to confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, suggesting that mitigation may rely on vendor updates or workarounds once available. The vulnerability is significant because InDesign is widely used in creative industries for desktop publishing, and sensitive memory disclosure could lead to leakage of proprietary or personal data embedded in memory during document processing.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54214 could be considerable in sectors relying heavily on Adobe InDesign for document creation and publishing, such as media, advertising, publishing houses, and design agencies. Disclosure of sensitive memory could expose confidential client information, intellectual property, or internal communications, potentially leading to reputational damage and regulatory consequences under GDPR if personal data is leaked. Since exploitation requires opening a malicious file, targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver the payload, increasing risk in organizations with less mature security awareness. The confidentiality breach could also facilitate subsequent attacks if sensitive credentials or tokens are exposed. However, the lack of integrity and availability impact limits the scope to information disclosure rather than system disruption or data manipulation.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict the opening of InDesign files from untrusted or unknown sources, especially via email or file sharing platforms. 2) Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious InDesign files to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering. 3) Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous file behavior or memory access patterns related to InDesign. 4) Monitor for updates from Adobe and apply patches promptly once released, as no patches are currently linked. 5) Consider sandboxing or isolating InDesign usage environments to limit the impact of potential memory disclosure. 6) Implement data loss prevention (DLP) controls to detect and prevent exfiltration of sensitive data that might be exposed through memory disclosure. 7) Conduct regular security awareness training emphasizing the risks of opening files from untrusted sources.