CVE-2022-28836 in InCopy
Summary
by MITRE • 09/11/2023
Adobe InCopy versions 17.1 (and earlier) and 16.4.1 (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 file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/12/2023
Adobe InCopy applications prior to versions 17.1 and 16.4.1 contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that presents a significant security risk to users. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-787, which describes out-of-bounds write conditions that occur when a program writes data past the end of a buffer, potentially corrupting adjacent memory locations. The flaw exists within the application's handling of specially crafted files, specifically within the parsing mechanisms that process document structures and formatting elements.
The technical execution of this vulnerability requires a user interaction vector where an attacker must convince a victim to open a maliciously crafted file within the InCopy application. When the vulnerable software attempts to process the crafted file, it fails to properly validate buffer boundaries during memory operations, leading to an out-of-bounds write condition. This memory corruption can overwrite adjacent data structures or executable code, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The attack surface is particularly concerning because it leverages the trust relationship between the user and the application, requiring no privileged access or system-level exploitation.
The operational impact of CVE-2022-28836 extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a complete compromise of user systems within the context of the current user's privileges. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, steal sensitive information, or establish persistent access to compromised systems. The vulnerability affects users who work with InCopy documents regularly, particularly in environments where document sharing occurs frequently. This makes it particularly dangerous in corporate settings where designers, editors, and publishing professionals might unknowingly open malicious documents that contain the exploit. The attack requires social engineering elements to succeed, making it more difficult to defend against but still highly effective when successful.
Mitigation strategies should focus on immediate patching of affected versions to address the root cause of the vulnerability. Adobe has released updates that resolve this issue, and organizations should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected systems. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting controls can help prevent execution of unauthorized binaries, while user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted documents from unknown sources. Network-based defenses such as email filtering and web proxies can help reduce the likelihood of users encountering malicious files. Organizations should also consider implementing sandboxing mechanisms for document processing and establishing strict file validation procedures for incoming documents. The vulnerability's classification under the ATT&CK framework includes techniques such as T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 - Command and Scripting Interpreter, highlighting the multi-faceted nature of the threat and the need for comprehensive defensive measures.