CVE-2025-54232 in Framemaker
Summary
by MITRE • 08/13/2025
Adobe Framemaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6 and earlier are affected by a Use After Free 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 • 08/14/2025
Adobe Framemaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6 and earlier contain a critical use after free vulnerability that represents a significant security risk to organizations relying on this document preparation software. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category, which specifically addresses use after free conditions where memory is accessed after it has been freed, creating opportunities for memory corruption and arbitrary code execution. The flaw exists within the application's handling of malformed or specially crafted files that are processed during normal document operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires a specific attack vector involving user interaction, as victims must actively open a maliciously crafted file to trigger the memory corruption. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the context of social engineering attacks where adversaries might distribute infected documents through phishing campaigns or malicious file sharing. The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the security context of the currently logged-in user, potentially enabling full system compromise if the user has elevated privileges.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses substantial risk to enterprise environments where Adobe Framemaker is widely deployed for technical documentation and publishing workflows. Organizations using these older versions face potential unauthorized access, data exfiltration, and persistent threat presence within their networks. The impact extends beyond individual user compromise to potential lateral movement within the network, especially when users have administrative rights or access to sensitive systems. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation could enable attackers to execute malicious commands through the compromised application.
The remediation strategy should prioritize immediate patching of all affected Adobe Framemaker versions to the latest available releases that contain fixes for this use after free vulnerability. Organizations should implement comprehensive software inventory management to identify all installations of vulnerable versions across their enterprise networks. Additionally, security teams should establish file validation procedures and user education programs to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation through social engineering vectors. Network monitoring solutions should be configured to detect suspicious file access patterns and potential exploitation attempts involving document processing applications. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software security patches and implementing defense in depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits targeting widely used productivity applications.