CVE-2022-24105 in Photoshop
Summary
by MITRE • 05/06/2022
Adobe Photoshop versions 22.5.6 (and earlier)and 23.2.2 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious U3D file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/11/2022
Adobe Photoshop contains a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability in its handling of Universal 3D file format parsing that could enable remote code execution when a user opens a maliciously crafted U3D file. This vulnerability resides in the software's 3D file processing subsystem and represents a classic buffer overflow condition where insufficient bounds checking allows memory writes beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw affects Adobe Photoshop versions 22.5.6 and earlier, as well as version 23.2.2 and earlier, indicating this vulnerability has persisted across multiple release cycles and represents a significant security gap in the application's input validation mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified as a CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that allows attackers to write data beyond the bounds of allocated memory regions. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code on target systems. The exploitation requires social engineering to trick users into opening a specially crafted U3D file, making it a user-interaction dependent vulnerability that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1566 Impersonation. The security implications are severe as successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, potentially leading to complete system compromise and data exfiltration.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability occurs during the parsing of Universal 3D files, which are 3D graphics formats that contain geometric data and metadata for three-dimensional objects. When Photoshop processes these files, it fails to properly validate the size and structure of data elements within the U3D container, allowing an attacker to craft a malicious file that triggers memory corruption. The out-of-bounds write specifically occurs in the memory management routines responsible for handling 3D mesh data, where the application allocates memory for vertex coordinates and other geometric properties without sufficient validation of input parameters. This type of vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through standard file opening operations, requiring no special privileges or complex attack vectors beyond user interaction. The vulnerability's impact is amplified by the widespread use of Adobe Photoshop in creative industries and professional environments where users frequently open files from unknown sources, creating numerous potential attack vectors. Security researchers have noted that the vulnerability's exploitation chain involves typical heap-based memory corruption techniques that have been extensively documented in security literature and are commonly targeted in advanced persistent threat campaigns.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond immediate code execution capabilities to encompass broader security implications for organizations relying on Adobe Photoshop for graphic design and media processing tasks. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent access to systems through the execution of malicious payloads that might include backdoors, keyloggers, or data exfiltration tools. The vulnerability's requirement for user interaction makes it particularly challenging to defend against through traditional network-based security controls, as it necessitates endpoint security measures that can detect and prevent the opening of malicious files. Organizations should consider implementing comprehensive security awareness training programs to reduce the risk of social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability, as well as deploying endpoint detection and response solutions that can monitor for suspicious file processing activities. The vulnerability's persistence across multiple Photoshop versions indicates that organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems, as Adobe has released security updates to address this specific flaw. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability could potentially violate various security standards including iso 27001 and nist cybersecurity framework requirements for vulnerability management and incident response. The security community has categorized this vulnerability as high-risk due to its combination of remote exploitability, code execution capabilities, and the common usage patterns of Adobe Photoshop in enterprise environments where sensitive data processing occurs regularly.