CVE-2025-21121
Published: 11 February 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-21121 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Adobe Indesign. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked at the 22.9th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-2 (Flaw Remediation) and SI-5 (Security Alerts, Advisories, and Directives).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly requires identification, reporting, and timely remediation of the out-of-bounds write vulnerability in vulnerable InDesign versions through patching as specified in Adobe APSB25-01.
Ensures systems receive, disseminate, and implement vendor security advisories like Adobe APSB25-01 for this CVE, enabling prompt patching to prevent exploitation.
Implements memory protection mechanisms such as ASLR, DEP, and stack canaries that mitigate exploitation of the out-of-bounds write vulnerability to arbitrary code execution.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Out-of-bounds write enables arbitrary code execution on opening a crafted malicious file (user interaction required), mapping directly to client-side exploitation and malicious file user execution.
NVD Description
InDesign Desktop versions ID20.0, ID19.5.1 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must…
more
open a malicious file.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-21121 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) affecting Adobe InDesign Desktop versions 20.0, 19.5.1, and earlier. Published on 2025-02-11, the flaw could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
Exploitation requires user interaction, as a victim must open a malicious file. Local attackers with no privileges (PR:N) can craft and deliver such a file, triggering the vulnerability with low attack complexity (AC:L). Successful exploitation yields high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, earning a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H).
Adobe's security bulletin APSB25-01 addresses this issue; refer to https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/indesign/apsb25-01.html for details on patches and mitigation.
Details
- CWE(s)