CVE-2010-2321 in InDesign CS3
Summary
by MITRE
Buffer overflow in Adobe InDesign CS3 10.0 allows user-assisted remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted .indd file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 12/30/2025
Adobe InDesign CS3 version 10.0 contains a critical buffer overflow vulnerability that presents a significant security risk to users who process untrusted .indd files. This vulnerability arises from insufficient input validation when parsing the structure of InDesign document files, specifically during the handling of malformed data within the file format's metadata sections. The flaw occurs when the application attempts to load a specially crafted .indd file that contains oversized data structures or malformed memory allocations, causing the application to overwrite adjacent memory regions beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 category of stack-based buffer overflow, where the overflow occurs in a stack-allocated buffer during the processing of user-supplied data. The attack vector requires a user to open a maliciously crafted .indd file, making this a user-assisted remote code execution vulnerability that can be delivered through social engineering tactics or compromised websites. The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as successful exploitation can lead to complete system compromise and privilege escalation, particularly when the target system runs with elevated privileges. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, as it leverages the application's legitimate file processing functionality to deliver malicious payloads. The vulnerability affects the core document processing functionality of Adobe InDesign, which is commonly used in professional publishing environments where users frequently exchange complex document files. Attackers can construct .indd files with carefully crafted buffer overflow payloads that, when opened by an unpatched InDesign application, will trigger the overflow and allow arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running the application. This makes the vulnerability particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may not be security-aware and where the application runs with high-privilege accounts. The exploitation of this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper memory management and input validation in document processing applications, as these tools often handle complex binary formats that can be manipulated to trigger memory corruption. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies and ensure that all users have the latest security patches installed to prevent exploitation of this and similar vulnerabilities in their document processing workflows.
Adobe InDesign CS3 version 10.0 suffers from a buffer overflow vulnerability that enables remote attackers to execute arbitrary code through crafted .indd files, representing a severe security weakness in the application's file handling mechanisms. The vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking during the parsing of InDesign document structures, specifically when processing oversized or malformed data within the file format's internal data structures. When the application encounters a malicious .indd file containing oversized buffer allocations or corrupted memory references, it fails to properly validate the input data before copying it into fixed-size memory buffers, resulting in memory corruption that can be exploited to overwrite critical program execution data. This memory corruption vulnerability aligns with CWE-125, which describes out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to buffer overflows and subsequent code execution. The attack requires user interaction to open the malicious file, classifying it as a user-assisted remote code execution vulnerability that can be propagated through various attack vectors including email attachments, compromised websites, or malicious file sharing platforms. The exploitation process typically involves crafting a .indd file with carefully constructed data that causes the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially overwriting return addresses, function pointers, or other critical execution data. From an operational security perspective, this vulnerability presents a substantial risk to organizations that rely heavily on InDesign for professional publishing workflows, as users may unknowingly open compromised documents that could lead to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the fact that InDesign is commonly used in creative industries where users frequently exchange complex document files and may not be security-conscious about file sources. The security implications extend beyond immediate code execution to include potential privilege escalation and persistent access to target systems. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability corresponds to T1203 and T1059.007, indicating the exploitation techniques that attackers can employ to leverage this weakness for broader system compromise. Organizations must maintain comprehensive patch management programs and implement strict document validation procedures to protect against this and similar buffer overflow vulnerabilities in their creative workflow applications.
The buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe InDesign CS3 version 10.0 represents a critical security flaw that can be exploited to achieve arbitrary code execution through malicious .indd file manipulation. This vulnerability occurs due to insufficient input validation and memory boundary checking during the processing of InDesign document files, where the application fails to properly verify the size and structure of incoming data before copying it into internal buffers. The flaw manifests when the application encounters specially crafted .indd files containing oversized data structures or malformed memory references that exceed the allocated buffer capacity, causing the program to overwrite adjacent memory regions with unpredictable results. This type of vulnerability specifically aligns with CWE-121 and CWE-125 classifications, which describe stack-based buffer overflows and out-of-bounds memory access conditions respectively. The user-assisted nature of the attack means that successful exploitation requires user interaction to open the malicious file, but once opened, the vulnerability can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The operational impact of this vulnerability is significant as it can be used to deliver malware payloads, establish persistent backdoors, or escalate privileges within the target system. Attackers can construct .indd files that exploit this buffer overflow to overwrite critical execution pointers, potentially redirecting program flow to malicious code injected into the memory space. From a defensive standpoint, this vulnerability highlights the importance of secure coding practices in document processing applications and demonstrates how seemingly benign file operations can become attack vectors when proper input validation is absent. The vulnerability affects organizations that use InDesign for professional publishing, where document exchange is frequent and security awareness may be limited among users. Security teams must implement layered defenses including file type restrictions, application whitelisting, and regular security updates to protect against exploitation of this and similar memory corruption vulnerabilities in creative applications. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this vulnerability under client-side exploitation techniques, emphasizing the need for user education and application security hardening measures to prevent successful exploitation attempts in enterprise environments.