CVE-2020-3783 in Photoshop CC 2019
Summary
by MITRE
Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 versions 20.0.8 and earlier, and Photoshop 2020 versions 21.1 and earlier have a heap corruption vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 10/05/2020
Adobe Photoshop versions 2019.0.8 and earlier, as well as Photoshop 2020 versions 21.1 and earlier contain a heap corruption vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw with significant operational implications. This vulnerability falls under the category of heap-based buffer overflows as classified by CWE-122, where improper memory management allows attackers to write beyond allocated heap memory boundaries. The flaw manifests when the application processes certain image files or specific data structures that trigger memory corruption during parsing operations.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within Photoshop's image processing routines, particularly when handling malformed or specially crafted input files. Attackers can exploit this weakness by constructing malicious image files that, when opened or processed by the vulnerable software, cause heap memory corruption. The heap corruption occurs due to improper memory allocation and deallocation practices, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite critical memory regions and potentially execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected user. This type of vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to gain remote code execution capabilities.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more extensive compromise within affected systems. Organizations using vulnerable Photoshop versions face significant risk of data breaches, system compromise, and potential lateral movement within their networks. The vulnerability affects users who regularly process images from untrusted sources, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where design and media teams frequently handle external files. Attackers leveraging this vulnerability could potentially escalate privileges, install backdoors, or establish persistent access points within the compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate patching of affected software versions to address the heap corruption issue. Organizations should prioritize updating to Adobe Photoshop CC 2019 version 20.0.9 or later, and Photoshop 2020 version 21.2 or later, which contain the necessary security fixes. Additionally, implementing network segmentation and access controls can help limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability and consider deploying application whitelisting policies to restrict execution of unauthorized software. Regular security assessments and vulnerability scanning should include verification of Photoshop installations to ensure all systems remain patched against this and similar heap-based vulnerabilities. The remediation process should also include user education regarding safe file handling practices and the importance of keeping software updated to prevent exploitation of known vulnerabilities.