CVE-2023-29311 in InDesign
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
Adobe InDesign versions ID18.3 (and earlier) and ID17.4.1 (and earlier) are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability that could lead to disclosure of sensitive memory. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to bypass mitigations such as ASLR. 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 • 07/12/2023
Adobe InDesign versions ID18.3 and earlier as well as ID17.4.1 and earlier contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that poses significant security risks to users. This vulnerability resides in the software's handling of certain file formats and memory management operations, creating a pathway for attackers to access memory locations beyond the intended bounds of allocated buffers. The flaw specifically manifests when processing maliciously crafted files that trigger improper memory access patterns within the application's parsing mechanisms. The vulnerability is classified as a buffer over-read condition that can be exploited to extract sensitive data from memory regions that should remain protected.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within Adobe InDesign's file parsing routines, particularly when handling complex document structures and embedded content. When a user opens a malicious file, the application's memory management system fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits, allowing the execution to proceed beyond allocated memory boundaries. This behavior creates opportunities for attackers to potentially extract information from adjacent memory locations, including cryptographic keys, session tokens, or other sensitive data that may be stored in nearby memory regions. The vulnerability's impact is exacerbated by its ability to bypass critical security mitigations such as address space layout randomization which is designed to prevent attackers from reliably predicting memory addresses.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as it provides attackers with the capability to circumvent modern exploit mitigations that are fundamental to contemporary security architectures. By leveraging the out-of-bounds read to extract memory addresses or other sensitive information, attackers can effectively undermine ASLR protections and gain insights into the target system's memory layout. This information can then be used to develop more sophisticated exploitation techniques that would otherwise be impossible to achieve. The requirement for user interaction through opening a malicious file represents a significant operational constraint for attackers, as it necessitates social engineering or other delivery mechanisms to successfully compromise systems. However, the vulnerability remains highly dangerous due to its potential for privilege escalation and data exfiltration.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-129, which specifically addresses improper validation of array index values, and demonstrates characteristics consistent with the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter. The security implications of this flaw are particularly concerning given Adobe InDesign's widespread use in professional environments where sensitive design files and creative assets are regularly processed. Organizations should prioritize immediate patching of affected systems and implement additional security controls including file validation, user education, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability serves as a reminder of the critical importance of robust input validation and memory safety practices in enterprise software development, particularly for applications that process complex file formats and user-generated content.