CVE-2020-3786 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 memory 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 memory corruption vulnerability that represents a critical security risk for users of these applications. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-122 weakness category, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions that can occur when a program writes data beyond the boundaries of a fixed-length buffer. The flaw manifests during the processing of certain image files, particularly those containing malformed or specially crafted data structures that trigger unexpected behavior in the application's memory management systems.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs when Photoshop attempts to parse and render image files that contain maliciously constructed data sequences. When the application encounters these malformed inputs, it fails to properly validate the buffer boundaries during memory allocation and data copying operations. This leads to a situation where attacker-controlled data can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program structures such as return addresses, function pointers, or other executable code segments. The vulnerability is classified as a remote code execution flaw because an attacker can deliver malicious payloads through image files that users might open or process within the application.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios and represents a significant threat to enterprise security environments. Users who regularly handle image files from untrusted sources, such as graphic designers working with client submissions or security professionals analyzing digital evidence, face elevated risk of compromise. The vulnerability can be leveraged through social engineering campaigns where attackers distribute malicious image files disguised as legitimate documents or media assets. Attackers may also exploit this flaw in automated systems where Photoshop is used for batch processing or file conversion tasks, potentially allowing for unauthorized access to entire systems or network infiltration through compromised workstations.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigation strategies focusing on both application updates and operational security measures. The primary defense mechanism involves upgrading to Adobe Photoshop versions 2019.1.0 or later for the 2019 releases, and Photoshop 2020 version 21.2 or later for the 2020 releases, which contain the necessary patches for this vulnerability. System administrators should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict the execution of untrusted image files, particularly in high-risk environments. Additionally, network-based intrusion detection systems should be configured to monitor for potential exploitation attempts involving image file processing activities. The vulnerability's classification as a remote code execution threat places it within the ATT&CK framework's technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploitation for client execution, making it a critical target for security monitoring and incident response procedures.