CVE-2024-43760 in Photoshop
Summary
by MITRE • 09/13/2024
Photoshop Desktop versions 24.7.4, 25.11 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 • 03/10/2025
Adobe Photoshop Desktop versions 24.7.4, 25.11 and earlier contain a critical out-of-bounds write vulnerability that presents a significant security risk to users. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-787 Out-of-bounds Write classification, where an application writes data beyond the boundaries of a allocated buffer. The flaw occurs within Photoshop's file parsing functionality, specifically when processing malformed or maliciously crafted image files. Attackers can exploit this weakness by crafting specially designed files that trigger the out-of-bounds write condition during the file opening process. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be successfully exploited, meaning victims must actively open the malicious file for the attack to succeed. This user interaction requirement aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes social engineering tactics that rely on user actions to execute malicious code. The security implications are severe as successful exploitation allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, potentially leading to full system compromise.
The technical nature of this vulnerability stems from insufficient bounds checking within Photoshop's image processing routines. When the application attempts to parse image metadata or pixel data from a malformed file, it fails to properly validate array indices or buffer sizes before writing data. This allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program structures or injecting malicious code into the application's memory space. The out-of-bounds write condition can be leveraged to manipulate the program's execution flow, often through stack corruption or heap-based attacks that redirect code execution to attacker-controlled payloads. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of Photoshop, indicating a persistent flaw in the application's file handling architecture that has not been adequately addressed in the affected releases. This widespread impact across different minor versions suggests the root cause lies in core parsing libraries or shared components used throughout the Photoshop codebase.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to compromised systems. Once arbitrary code execution is achieved, threat actors can leverage the user context to perform various malicious activities including data exfiltration, system reconnaissance, or deployment of additional malware. The requirement for user interaction provides some defense-in-depth benefits, as users may recognize suspicious file attachments or be cautious about opening unknown files. However, this protection is not foolproof, particularly when attacks employ social engineering techniques or when users encounter files that appear legitimate. The vulnerability's exploitation scenario fits within the ATT&CK framework's initial access categories, where attackers may use spear-phishing campaigns or malicious file sharing to deliver the exploit. Organizations running these affected Photoshop versions face significant risk, especially in environments where users frequently handle external image files or work with untrusted content sources.
Organizations should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to Adobe Photoshop versions 25.12 or later, which contain the necessary security patches. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies and consider sandboxing or virtualization of image processing activities to limit potential damage from successful exploits. Users should exercise extreme caution when opening image files from untrusted sources and maintain current antivirus signatures that can detect known malicious file patterns. The vulnerability's classification as an out-of-bounds write makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through techniques like return-oriented programming or heap spraying attacks that are commonly used in modern exploit development. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to this vulnerability, including unusual network connections or file modifications that might occur during exploitation attempts. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies can prevent unauthorized versions of Photoshop from executing on corporate networks, providing an additional layer of protection against this and similar vulnerabilities. The incident highlights the importance of regular security updates and continuous vulnerability assessment practices to maintain robust defenses against evolving threats in the cybersecurity landscape.