CVE-2019-7986 in Photoshop CC
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Photoshop CC versions 19.1.8 and earlier and 20.0.5 and earlier have an out of bound write vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2020
Adobe Photoshop applications suffer from a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that affects versions 19.1.8 and earlier, as well as 20.0.5 and earlier. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of certain image file formats, specifically within the parsing logic that processes malformed or specially crafted input files. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, creating a condition where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions that can result in arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through maliciously crafted image files that appear legitimate to users but contain carefully constructed data that triggers the memory corruption during file processing. Attackers can leverage this weakness by enticing victims to open specially crafted image files, potentially through social engineering campaigns or by compromising legitimate file repositories. The exploitation process typically involves the attacker creating a file that, when processed by Photoshop, causes the application to write data beyond intended memory boundaries, potentially overwriting critical program structures such as return addresses or function pointers. This memory corruption can then be manipulated to redirect program execution flow, allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Photoshop process. The impact extends beyond simple code execution as it can lead to complete system compromise, especially when the application runs with elevated privileges or when the victim's system lacks proper exploit mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. Organizations using affected Photoshop versions should prioritize immediate patching and implement additional security controls including file validation, sandboxing, and user education about the risks of opening untrusted files. The vulnerability also aligns with several techniques described in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the execution and privilege escalation domains, where adversaries may leverage application flaws to gain unauthorized code execution and potentially elevate their access level within the compromised system. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability as part of broader threat modeling exercises, particularly when evaluating the risk of file-based attacks in creative and design environments where users frequently open files from external sources or collaborate on shared projects. The presence of such a vulnerability in widely used creative software like Photoshop underscores the importance of maintaining current security patches and implementing layered defensive strategies to protect against sophisticated exploitation techniques that target common applications.