Overview
CVE-2025-47099 is a critical vulnerability discovered in older versions of InCopy, a popular desktop publishing software. This vulnerability stems from a heap-based buffer overflow issue, which could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Given the widespread use of InCopy, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to individuals and organizations alike, potentially leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-47099
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: User
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Arbitrary code execution, potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
InCopy | 20.3, 19.5.3, and earlier
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability arises from a flaw in the manner in which InCopy handles memory allocation for certain file types. A maliciously crafted file, when opened by a user, can cause a heap-based buffer overflow, overwriting memory areas that should not be accessible. This can lead to the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the user who opened the file, potentially allowing an attacker to compromise the system or leak sensitive data.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how a malicious payload might be crafted. Note that the actual exploit would involve complex binary manipulations and would likely be embedded within a file format that InCopy can open.
#!/bin/bash
# Create a file with a payload that causes a buffer overflow
echo -n 'HEADER' > exploit.icml
echo -n 'OVERFLOW_PAYLOAD' >> exploit.icml
echo -n 'ARBITRARY_CODE' >> exploit.icml
# The resulting file `exploit.icml` can be opened by InCopy, causing a buffer overflow and the execution of the arbitrary code.Mitigation
To protect against this vulnerability, users should apply the latest vendor-provided patches for InCopy. If patches are not available or cannot be applied immediately, it is recommended to use Web Application Firewalls (WAF) or Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) as a temporary mitigation method to detect potential exploit attempts. Furthermore, users should be cautious when opening files from untrusted sources, as the exploit requires user interaction to be successful.
