CVE-2018-4928 in InDesign
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe InDesign versions 13.0 and below have an exploitable Memory corruption vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/07/2020
Adobe InDesign versions 13.0 and earlier contain a critical memory corruption vulnerability that represents a significant security risk for users of the software. This vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows as identified by CWE-122, where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to write beyond allocated memory regions. The flaw specifically affects the application's handling of malformed input files or documents, creating opportunities for memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code within the context of the currently logged-in user.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate input validation mechanisms within InDesign's document processing pipeline. When the application processes specially crafted or corrupted files, particularly those containing malformed data structures or oversized elements, the memory management routines fail to properly validate the size and content of incoming data. This allows attackers to manipulate heap memory layout and potentially overwrite critical memory segments including function pointers, return addresses, or other control structures that govern program execution flow. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it operates at the memory level where the application's execution context can be directly compromised without requiring elevated privileges.
The operational impact of CVE-2018-4928 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities to encompass potential full system compromise when combined with other attack vectors. An attacker who successfully exploits this vulnerability could gain the ability to execute malicious code with the same privileges as the InDesign user, potentially leading to data exfiltration, system persistence mechanisms, or further lateral movement within a network environment. This aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation. The vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems including Windows, macOS, and Linux platforms where InDesign is installed, making it a widespread concern for organizations that rely on Adobe Creative Suite applications.
Organizations should prioritize immediate mitigation through patch management procedures to address this vulnerability in accordance with industry best practices outlined in NIST SP 800-128 and ISO/IEC 27001 standards. Adobe released security updates for InDesign versions 13.1 and later that resolve this memory corruption issue through enhanced bounds checking and improved input validation mechanisms. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies, restricting user privileges when running creative applications, and deploying sandboxing technologies can provide additional layers of defense. Network segmentation and monitoring solutions should be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts through unusual memory access patterns or unexpected code execution behaviors. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should be conducted to identify any remaining instances of affected InDesign versions within the organization's infrastructure.