CVE-2022-30641 in Illustrator
Summary
by MITRE • 09/07/2023
Adobe Illustrator versions 26.0.2 (and earlier) and 25.4.5 (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 • 04/22/2025
Adobe Illustrator suffers from a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that resides within its file parsing functionality, specifically affecting versions 26.0.2 and earlier, as well as 25.4.5 and earlier. This vulnerability manifests when the application processes maliciously crafted files, creating a scenario where memory operations exceed allocated boundaries. The flaw stems from inadequate input validation and bounds checking within the software's vector graphics handling mechanisms, allowing attackers to manipulate memory layout during file processing. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-787, representing a direct violation of memory safety principles that enables attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations with controlled data. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, where adversaries leverage application flaws to execute malicious code through user interaction.
The exploitation process requires social engineering to trick users into opening a specially crafted Illustrator file, making this a user-initiated attack vector rather than an automated compromise. When a victim opens the malicious file, the application's parsing routine fails to properly validate the size and structure of embedded data, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates within the context of the current user, meaning attackers can potentially access user data, modify files, or establish persistence mechanisms without requiring elevated privileges. This makes the attack surface particularly concerning for creative professionals who frequently handle external design files from clients or collaborators, as these files often contain embedded elements that could trigger the vulnerable code path.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the application's handling of complex vector graphics elements, particularly those involving embedded metadata or custom color profiles. When processing malformed files, the software's memory allocation routines fail to properly check array bounds, allowing attackers to write data beyond intended memory segments. This memory corruption can overwrite critical program structures such as return addresses, function pointers, or stack canaries, enabling attackers to redirect execution flow. The vulnerability's exploitation typically involves crafting a file with oversized or malformed data structures that trigger the buffer overflow during normal file processing operations. Security researchers have identified that the issue occurs in the application's handling of specific vector data formats, particularly when processing files with embedded color management information or complex path definitions.
Organizations and users should immediately update to the latest versions of Adobe Illustrator that contain patches addressing this vulnerability, as Adobe has released security updates to remediate the issue. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies, particularly for design files received from external sources, and consider deploying sandboxing solutions to isolate potentially malicious files. Network security controls such as email filtering and web proxies should be configured to block suspicious file types and prevent users from inadvertently downloading malicious content. Additionally, user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening files from trusted sources and verifying file integrity before processing. The vulnerability represents a significant risk to creative workflows and digital asset management systems, particularly in environments where multiple users share design files or collaborate on projects. Organizations should also consider implementing application control measures to restrict execution of untrusted files and maintain regular security assessments to identify potential exploitation vectors.