CVE-2018-4946 in Photoshop CC
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Photoshop CC versions 19.1.3 and earlier, 18.1.3 and earlier, and 18.1.2 and earlier have an Out-of-bounds write 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 • 04/05/2023
Adobe Photoshop contains a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that affects multiple versions including 19.1.3 and earlier, 18.1.3 and earlier, and 18.1.2 and earlier. This vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the application's image processing routines, specifically when handling malformed image files or certain embedded metadata structures. The flaw allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This represents a severe security risk as it can be exploited through social engineering attacks where victims open maliciously crafted image files, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may encounter such files through email attachments or web downloads. The vulnerability manifests when Photoshop attempts to parse specific image formats or embedded color profiles, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute malicious code. According to CWE classification, this vulnerability maps to CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which is categorized under the broader weakness of improper bounds checking in memory operations. The attack surface extends beyond simple file execution as the vulnerability can be triggered through various image processing operations within the application's user interface. The exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it particularly effective for targeted attacks. Security researchers have noted that this vulnerability is particularly concerning because it does not require elevated privileges to exploit, as the application runs with the user's current permissions. The impact of successful exploitation includes potential system compromise, data exfiltration, and the ability to establish persistent access through the execution of malicious payloads. Organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of untrusted image files and ensure timely patch deployment. The vulnerability also aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable adversaries to execute commands through the compromised Photoshop process. Furthermore, the issue demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in multimedia processing applications, where the parsing of complex file formats creates numerous potential attack vectors. Adobe has released patches for this vulnerability in subsequent versions, and users should immediately update to the latest available releases to mitigate the risk. Organizations should also implement network-based security controls to detect and prevent the delivery of malicious image files through email or web services, as the vulnerability can be exploited through multiple delivery mechanisms. The incident underscores the critical need for regular security updates and proper software lifecycle management in preventing exploitation of memory corruption vulnerabilities.