CVE-2019-7987 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 read vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to memory leak.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/06/2020
Adobe Photoshop presents a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability in its handling of specific image file formats, where the software fails to properly validate array indices during parsing operations. This flaw affects versions 19.1.8 and earlier, as well as 20.0.5 and earlier, creating a pathway for attackers to manipulate memory access patterns through crafted input files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking mechanisms within the application's image processing pipeline, particularly when handling malformed or specially constructed image data structures. When Photoshop attempts to read data beyond allocated memory boundaries, it can expose sensitive memory contents or cause unpredictable behavior that may lead to information disclosure.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability resides in the application's failure to validate input parameters during image file parsing, specifically affecting the way Photoshop processes certain metadata or pixel data structures. This issue manifests as an uninitialized memory read operation that occurs when the software attempts to access array elements without proper boundary validation. The out-of-bounds read can be triggered by loading maliciously crafted image files, which causes the application to access memory locations that were not properly initialized or allocated, potentially exposing confidential information stored in adjacent memory segments. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which describes improper validation of array indices, and represents a classic memory safety issue that has been a persistent concern in image processing applications due to the complex nature of file format parsing.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory leakage, as it creates potential opportunities for more sophisticated attacks within the context of targeted exploitation. Attackers can leverage this weakness to gain access to sensitive data that may be stored in memory regions adjacent to the vulnerable code paths, potentially including user credentials, session tokens, or other confidential information. The vulnerability's exploitation requires the user to open a malicious file, making it a prime candidate for social engineering campaigns targeting creative professionals who regularly handle image files. This attack vector aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for application execution and T1068 for exploit development, as it represents a classic use of memory corruption to achieve unauthorized access to system resources. The memory leak aspect of the vulnerability can also contribute to denial of service conditions, where repeated exploitation may cause application instability or crash scenarios.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patch application from Adobe, which addresses the underlying bounds checking issues in the image parsing routines. Organizations should implement strict file validation policies that include sandboxing image processing operations and restricting file type extensions that are commonly associated with this class of vulnerability. Security teams should monitor for unusual memory access patterns or application crashes that may indicate exploitation attempts, while also implementing network-based intrusion detection systems to identify potential malicious file transfers. The remediation process involves updating to Adobe Photoshop versions 20.0.6 or later, which include proper bounds validation and memory access controls. Additionally, users should exercise caution when opening image files from untrusted sources and maintain regular backup procedures to mitigate potential data exposure risks. This vulnerability underscores the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in image processing applications, particularly those handling complex file formats with extensive metadata structures.