CVE-2023-29312 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.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
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 classified as CVE-2023-29312 that poses significant security risks to users. This vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the application's memory handling mechanisms, specifically affecting how the software processes certain file formats. The flaw allows an attacker to manipulate the application's memory access patterns to read data from unauthorized memory locations, potentially exposing sensitive information such as stack contents, heap data, or other confidential memory segments. The vulnerability's classification aligns with CWE-129, which addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs, and represents a fundamental flaw in the application's input sanitization processes. When an attacker crafts a malicious file designed to trigger this out-of-bounds read condition, the application's memory management system can be manipulated to reveal memory addresses that may contain critical information such as base addresses for the application's memory space or other sensitive data structures. This memory disclosure can be particularly dangerous as it enables attackers to bypass important security mitigations like Address Space Layout Randomization which relies on unpredictable memory addresses to prevent exploitation. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited successfully, meaning that a victim must open the maliciously crafted file within the vulnerable InDesign application for the attack to succeed. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the context of social engineering attacks where attackers might distribute malicious files through various channels such as email attachments, file sharing platforms, or compromised websites. The attack vector specifically targets the file parsing functionality of InDesign, suggesting that the vulnerability occurs during the processing of document elements or embedded content within the application's rendering pipeline. The exploitation of this vulnerability can lead to a complete compromise of the application's security model as the memory disclosure can provide attackers with the information needed to develop more sophisticated attacks such as return-oriented programming or other advanced exploitation techniques that rely on knowing memory layout details. Organizations using these vulnerable versions of Adobe InDesign should prioritize immediate patching to address this security gap, as the vulnerability represents a significant risk to document security and system integrity. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the ability to bypass ASLR creates opportunities for more advanced persistent threats that can leverage the disclosed memory information to circumvent modern exploit mitigations and establish more stable footholds within target environments. Security teams should implement additional monitoring for suspicious file opening activities and consider network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts targeting this vulnerability.
The technical implementation of this out-of-bounds read vulnerability demonstrates a classic memory safety issue that has been prevalent in document processing applications for years. The flaw specifically manifests when the application attempts to read memory locations beyond the allocated boundaries of a data structure, typically occurring during the parsing of malformed or specially crafted input files. This behavior aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 which describes the use of application-specific commands to execute malicious code, and T1203 which involves the use of application execution flaws to gain unauthorized access. The vulnerability's impact on ASLR bypass capabilities is particularly concerning as it demonstrates how memory disclosure flaws can undermine fundamental security protections that are designed to prevent exploitation of other vulnerabilities. The fact that this vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited makes it less likely to be used in automated attacks but more susceptible to targeted social engineering campaigns where attackers specifically target users who regularly work with InDesign files. The vulnerability's presence in multiple version lines indicates a persistent flaw in the application's codebase that was not adequately addressed in the security updates, suggesting that the root cause remains unpatched in the affected releases. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as file type restrictions, application whitelisting, and user education programs to reduce the risk of exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security assessments and penetration testing of document processing applications, as these tools often become targets for advanced persistent threats due to their widespread use in business environments and the sensitive nature of the documents they handle. Security researchers should monitor for related vulnerabilities that may be discovered through similar memory handling issues and ensure that proper input validation and bounds checking mechanisms are implemented across all file processing components.
The exploitation of CVE-2023-29312 represents a significant concern for organizations that rely heavily on Adobe InDesign for professional document creation and editing. The vulnerability's potential to bypass ASLR makes it particularly dangerous as it can be used to establish more sophisticated attack chains that would otherwise be prevented by modern memory protection mechanisms. This vulnerability demonstrates how seemingly minor memory safety issues can have major implications for overall system security, as the ability to read arbitrary memory locations provides attackers with critical information needed to develop more advanced exploitation techniques. The out-of-bounds read condition can be triggered through various file format elements within InDesign documents, including embedded graphics, text formatting, or other complex document components that require extensive memory allocation and processing. The vulnerability's classification as a memory safety issue places it within the broader category of software flaws that are commonly exploited in enterprise environments, where the compromise of a single application can potentially lead to broader system access. Organizations should consider implementing layered security approaches that include both application-level protections and network-based monitoring to detect potential exploitation attempts. The vulnerability also underscores the importance of keeping all software components up to date, as the affected versions of InDesign have received security updates that address this specific flaw. Security teams should conduct thorough risk assessments to determine the potential impact of this vulnerability within their specific environments, considering factors such as user behavior patterns, document sharing practices, and the overall security posture of their network infrastructure. The presence of this vulnerability in widely used professional applications like InDesign also highlights the need for better security practices in software development, particularly around input validation and memory management, to prevent similar issues from occurring in other applications that process complex file formats and user-generated content.