CVE-2025-54231: Use After Free Vulnerability in Adobe Framemaker Leading to Arbitrary Code Execution

Overview

In this blog post, we delve into the intricate details of the CVE-2025-54231 vulnerability, a critical security flaw present in the Adobe Framemaker software. This vulnerability has been identified in the versions 2020.8, 2022.6 and earlier. The flaw is categorized as a Use After Free vulnerability, presenting a potential threat to system security as it could result in arbitrary code execution under certain circumstances. Because of the widespread usage of Adobe Framemaker, this vulnerability could have far-reaching implications, potentially affecting numerous systems and networks.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-54231
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: User
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Adobe Framemaker | 2020.8, 2022.6 and earlier

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability in question concerns a Use After Free condition. In essence, this means that the software, Adobe Framemaker in this case, uses a pointer after it has been freed. This can lead to a variety of issues, including crashes, but, more worryingly, it could also result in arbitrary code execution.
The flaw becomes exploitable when a user opens a malicious file, causing the application to access memory that has previously been freed. This could allow an attacker to inject malicious code into this space, which the application could then inadvertently execute.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited. This is a simplified representation and the actual process would likely involve more complex manipulations:

#include <stdio.h>
int main(void) {
char* pointer = malloc(10);
free(pointer);
strcpy(pointer, "malicious_code");
printf("%s\n", pointer);
}

In this hypothetical code snippet, a pointer is allocated with `malloc()`, then immediately freed with `free()`. However, the pointer is then used again with `strcpy()` to insert a malicious string. When the application subsequently tries to print the string with `printf()`, it inadvertently executes the malicious code.

Mitigation Guidance

Users are advised to immediately apply the vendor-provided patch to mitigate the vulnerability in question. In cases where immediate patching is not possible, employing a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure. However, this should not be seen as a long-term solution and patching should be prioritized as soon as feasible.
Regularly updating your software and maintaining a robust security system are key to ensuring your systems remain protected against such vulnerabilities.