CVE-2025-49563: Critical Out-of-bounds Write Vulnerability in Illustrator Versions Leading to Potential Arbitrary Code Execution

Overview

The cybersecurity landscape is ever-evolving, with new vulnerabilities being discovered frequently. One such vulnerability, identified as CVE-2025-49563, has been discovered in Illustrator versions 28.7.8, 29.6.1, and earlier. It is classified as an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The flaw is concerning not only for individual users but also for organizations, as it could lead to system compromise or data leakage.
This blog post aims to provide an in-depth analysis of this vulnerability, its impact, and the ways to mitigate it. The vulnerability matters because it requires user interaction, meaning that a victim must open a malicious file for the exploitation to occur. This makes it a significant security risk as it can be exploited through common phishing or social engineering tactics.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-49563
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Illustrator | 28.7.8, 29.6.1 and earlier

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability exists in the way Illustrator processes certain file types. An attacker can craft a malicious file that, when opened by the victim, triggers an out-of-bounds write operation. This operation can overwrite critical memory locations, thereby allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Given that this exploit requires user interaction, it can be integrated into phishing campaigns, making it a potent threat.

Conceptual Example Code

The following pseudocode provides a conceptual representation of how this vulnerability might be exploited:

# Attacker crafts a malicious file
malicious_file = craft_malicious_file()
# Attacker sends the malicious file to the victim
send_file_to_victim(malicious_file)
# Victim opens the malicious file
# This triggers the out-of-bounds write operation, leading to arbitrary code execution
victim_opens_file(malicious_file)

Please note that the above code is only a conceptual example and does not represent an actual exploit.

Mitigation Measures

Users are advised to apply the vendor patch to fix this vulnerability. In the absence of a patch, temporary mitigation can be achieved by using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS). Users should also be wary of opening files from untrusted sources to avoid falling victim to this exploit. Regular security awareness trainings can help in reducing the risk of such user-interaction-based exploits.