CVE-2019-7959 in Creative Cloud Desktop Application
Summary
by MITRE
Creative Cloud Desktop Application versions 4.6.1 and earlier have a using components with known vulnerabilities vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/30/2020
The Creative Cloud Desktop Application represents a critical component in Adobe's ecosystem for managing creative software installations and updates across enterprise environments. This application serves as the primary interface for users to download, install, and manage various Adobe Creative Suite applications including Photoshop, Illustrator, and InDesign. The vulnerability identified in versions 4.6.1 and earlier stems from the application's reliance on third-party libraries and components that have been previously identified as containing security flaws. These outdated components create attack vectors that adversaries can exploit to gain unauthorized access to systems running the affected software. The vulnerability classification indicates that the application is using components with known security weaknesses, which represents a fundamental security flaw in the application's architecture and dependency management practices.
The technical flaw manifests through the application's use of vulnerable third-party libraries that have been documented in security databases and vulnerability advisories. These components typically include common software libraries such as those used for network communication, file handling, or graphical user interface rendering. When an attacker successfully exploits these known vulnerabilities, they can achieve arbitrary code execution on the target system, which represents a severe privilege escalation scenario. The exploitation process typically involves leveraging buffer overflows, memory corruption issues, or other coding flaws present in the vulnerable components to inject malicious code that executes with the privileges of the running application. This arbitrary code execution capability allows attackers to potentially install malware, steal sensitive data, or establish persistent access to compromised systems.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond individual system compromises to affect entire enterprise environments where the Creative Cloud Desktop Application is deployed. Organizations using affected versions face significant risk of unauthorized access and potential data breaches, particularly in environments where the application is installed with elevated privileges or where users have administrative rights. The vulnerability affects not only end-user workstations but also server environments where the application might be used for centralized management of creative software deployments. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to gain a foothold in networks, potentially using the compromised system as a launching point for lateral movement and further attacks against other systems within the organization. The widespread adoption of Adobe Creative Cloud applications across creative industries, media organizations, and enterprise environments amplifies the potential impact of this vulnerability.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action to update to patched versions of the Creative Cloud Desktop Application. Adobe released updates addressing this vulnerability in subsequent versions, and organizations should prioritize upgrading to the latest stable releases. System administrators should implement strict patch management policies to ensure all instances of the application are updated promptly. Additional protective measures include network segmentation to limit access to systems running the application, implementing application whitelisting policies, and monitoring for suspicious network activity that might indicate exploitation attempts. Security teams should also conduct vulnerability assessments to identify all instances of the affected software within their environments and ensure that automated patch deployment mechanisms are functioning correctly. The vulnerability aligns with common attack patterns documented in the attack tree framework, where attackers target commonly used applications with known vulnerabilities to achieve initial system compromise. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint detection and response solutions to identify potential exploitation attempts and provide visibility into malicious activities targeting these vulnerable components.