CVE-2023-29315 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 applications running versions ID18.3 and earlier as well as ID17.4.1 and earlier contain a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability designated as CVE-2023-29315 that presents significant security risks to affected systems. This vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking within the application's memory handling mechanisms, specifically when processing certain file formats that trigger memory access beyond allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw manifests as an out-of-bounds read condition that allows unauthorized memory access patterns, potentially exposing sensitive data stored in adjacent memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 category of Improper Validation of Array Index, which directly relates to inadequate input validation and buffer management practices. The security implications extend beyond simple data exposure as this vulnerability can be leveraged to defeat modern exploit mitigations including Address Space Layout Randomization, which is a critical defense mechanism that randomizes memory layout to prevent exploitation.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction through social engineering tactics where victims must open a maliciously crafted file within the InDesign application. This attack vector aligns with the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution, which emphasizes the necessity of user engagement for successful exploitation. When a victim opens the malicious file, the application processes the malformed data structure which triggers the out-of-bounds read condition. The memory disclosure occurs during the file parsing process, potentially exposing stack canaries, heap metadata, or other sensitive information that could be used to craft more sophisticated attacks. The vulnerability's impact is particularly concerning because it can be used to bypass ASLR protections that are designed to randomize memory addresses and make exploitation more difficult. Attackers can leverage the memory disclosure to discover the base addresses of loaded libraries or executable code segments, effectively removing one of the primary barriers to successful exploitation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends to organizations that rely heavily on Adobe InDesign for professional publishing workflows, particularly those in creative agencies, publishing houses, and design firms. These environments often handle sensitive client data, proprietary content, and intellectual property that could be compromised through successful exploitation. The vulnerability affects not just individual users but entire organizations that depend on InDesign's document processing capabilities. The out-of-bounds read condition creates opportunities for attackers to extract memory contents that might include encryption keys, authentication tokens, or other sensitive information stored in memory. This memory disclosure capability represents a significant threat to information security, as it provides attackers with crucial information needed to bypass security controls. Organizations using affected versions should consider this vulnerability as a critical threat that requires immediate attention to prevent potential data breaches and system compromise.
Organizations should implement multiple layers of mitigation strategies to address CVE-2023-29315. The primary recommendation involves upgrading to the latest versions of Adobe InDesign that contain patches for this vulnerability, which aligns with the ATT&CK mitigation technique T1562.001 - Disable or Modify Tools. Additionally, organizations should deploy application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of unauthorized software and implement strict file validation procedures for incoming documents. Network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems and sandboxing mechanisms can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. Regular security awareness training for users is essential to prevent successful social engineering attacks that rely on user interaction for exploitation. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-129 highlights the importance of implementing robust input validation and bounds checking mechanisms in software development processes, which serves as a preventive measure against similar issues in the future. Organizations should also consider implementing memory protection mechanisms and monitoring for unusual memory access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.