CVE-2026-48293: Adobe InDesign Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability (CVSS 7.8)

Technical summary

This out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) exists in InDesign Desktop and stems from improper bounds checking during file parsing or memory operations. When a victim opens a malicious file, the application writes data beyond the allocated buffer boundary, corrupting adjacent memory and enabling code execution. The vulnerability requires local file access and user interaction; remote exploitation or privilege escalation is not indicated. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 (HIGH) reflects high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no special privileges needed—but the requirement for user interaction (opening a file) moderates the overall risk.

Business impact

Organizations using InDesign for publishing, design, or media workflows face operational disruption and data exposure. A compromised designer workstation could lead to exfiltration of proprietary designs, brand assets, or editorial content. In enterprise environments, an infected InDesign process could serve as a foothold for lateral movement to shared repositories or connected systems. Industries reliant on InDesign—publishing, advertising, media—should assess exposure and prioritize patching. The user-interaction requirement limits mass exploitation but does not eliminate insider or targeted attack scenarios.

Affected systems

Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 21.3, 20.5.3 and earlier are vulnerable. The flaw affects both Windows and macOS platforms. Users of InDesign as part of Adobe Creative Cloud or standalone licenses should verify their installed version immediately. Verify your current version via Help > About InDesign (or equivalent in your OS). No other Adobe applications are mentioned as affected.

Exploitability

Exploitation requires delivery and user interaction—a victim must open a malicious file. The CVSS vector indicates low attack complexity, meaning the attack is straightforward once the file is in hand, but distribution and social engineering are prerequisites. There is no evidence of public exploit code or active exploitation in the wild as of the publication date. The requirement for local file interaction prevents wormable or mass-remote attacks, though targeted spear-phishing or supply-chain scenarios remain plausible. This vulnerability is not currently on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities (KEV) catalog.

Remediation

Update InDesign Desktop to a patched version above 21.3 and 20.5.3 on Windows and macOS respectively. Consult the Adobe security advisory for the exact patched build numbers. Until patching is complete, educate users to avoid opening files from untrusted sources, particularly design files (.indd, .idml) received via email or unverified downloads. Enforce file-type restrictions via endpoint controls if feasible. Monitor InDesign process behavior for anomalies post-patch deployment.

Patch guidance

Check your current InDesign version by opening the application and navigating to Help > About InDesign. Adobe typically releases patches through the Creative Cloud desktop application auto-update mechanism or manual download from adobe.com. Verify the patched version number against the official Adobe security advisory (published 2026-06-09, updated 2026-06-17) before confirming remediation. Prioritize systems belonging to design teams and content creators. Test patches in a non-production environment first if custom workflows or plugins are in use.

Detection guidance

Monitor file-open events in InDesign via endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools; look for unusual file types or sources. Watch for InDesign process crashes or unexpected child process spawning (cmd.exe, powershell.exe, etc.) which may indicate exploitation. Check for suspicious network connections initiated by InDesign after file-open events. Log and alert on attempts to open .indd or .idml files from suspicious locations (temp directories, AppData, Downloads). Behavioral analytics may flag memory corruption patterns or privilege-elevation attempts associated with code execution post-exploitation.

Why prioritize this

This vulnerability scores HIGH (7.8 CVSS) and merits prompt action because it enables arbitrary code execution with full user privileges, affecting a widely-used professional application. Although user interaction is required, targeted delivery to design professionals is straightforward and the impact—data exfiltration and system compromise—is severe. The absence of public exploits or KEV listing does not eliminate risk; organizations should patch ahead of weaponization. Design and publishing teams should be prioritized first.

Risk score, explained

The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 reflects: (1) High impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (full code execution rights), (2) Low attack complexity (straightforward exploitation once file is opened), (3) No privilege escalation required, (4) Local attack vector (file must be delivered and opened locally), (5) User interaction required (mitigating factor). The HIGH severity is justified by the combination of code-execution capability and the prevalence of InDesign in professional workflows, despite the social-engineering prerequisite.

Frequently asked questions