CVE-2025-30295: Heap-based Buffer Overflow Vulnerability in Adobe Framemaker

Overview

CVE-2025-30295 is a critical vulnerability detected in Adobe Framemaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6, and earlier. This vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow that can lead to arbitrary code execution, potentially compromising systems or leading to data leakage. What makes this vulnerability particularly dangerous is the context of its exploitation – it operates in the current user context, meaning that any malicious activity could be perceived as legitimate user behavior. Furthermore, the vulnerability requires user interaction, making it an ideal exploit for phishing or social engineering attacks.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-30295
Severity: High (7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Arbitrary code execution, potential system compromise, or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Adobe Framemaker | 2020.8
Adobe Framemaker | 2022.6

How the Exploit Works

The exploit takes advantage of a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Adobe Framemaker. An attacker crafts a malicious file which, when opened by a user in the vulnerable software, triggers the overflow. In a buffer overflow, data exceeding the buffer’s boundary is written into adjacent memory. This vulnerability is ‘heap-based’ because the overflow occurs in the heap data area, a region of memory used for dynamic memory allocation. This overflow can corrupt data, crash the program, or, most dangerously, lead to arbitrary code execution.

Conceptual Example Code

Considering the nature of this vulnerability, the exploit would likely involve a maliciously crafted Adobe Framemaker file. An oversimplified example might look like this:

char buffer[512];
// The attacker controls the input size and content
read_from_malicious_file(buffer, 1024);

In this conceptual example, the function `read_from_malicious_file()` is reading 1024 bytes of data from a malicious file and trying to store it in a buffer that only has space for 512 bytes. This causes a buffer overflow, which in turn can lead to arbitrary code execution.
Please note, this is a conceptual example and oversimplifies the complexities involved in real-world exploitation.