Overview
InDesign Desktop, a popular publishing and typesetting software, is plagued by a severe vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-43589. This vulnerability is present in the ID20.2, ID19.5.3 and earlier versions of the software. The issue pertains to a Use After Free vulnerability, a class of security flaws that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
This vulnerability is of particular concern because it could potentially lead to system compromise or data leakage. Its successful exploitation requires user interaction as the victim must open a malicious file. As such, the concern lies in the potential damage that could be done if the user is tricked into opening such a file.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-43589
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: User level
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
InDesign Desktop | ID20.2, ID19.5.3 and earlier
How the Exploit Works
The Use After Free vulnerability in InDesign Desktop is caused by the software improperly managing memory when handling certain files. Specifically, when a user opens a maliciously crafted file, the software may free a block of memory, but fail to remove all references to it. This could allow an attacker to reuse the freed memory and execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user.
Conceptual Example Code
While the exact method of exploiting this vulnerability depends on the specifics of the malicious file and the environment, a conceptual example could involve a malicious script embedded in a file. When the user opens the file, the script is executed, leveraging the Use After Free vulnerability.
// Conceptual example of a malicious script
var maliciousObj = {
execute: function() {
// Exploit use after free vulnerability
targetMemoryBlock.free();
attackerMemoryBlock.use(targetMemoryBlock.reference);
// Execute arbitrary code
attackerMemoryBlock.executeArbitraryCode();
}
};
maliciousObj.execute();Please note that this is a conceptual example. The actual exploitation may vary based on a number of factors including the specifics of the vulnerable software and the attacker’s knowledge and skill.