CVE-2022-28831: In-depth Analysis of an Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability in Adobe InDesign

Adobe InDesign, a popular desktop publishing and typesetting software, has been recently found to be affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability, prompting the organization to release a patch for the affected versions. Outlined in this article is a detailed analysis of the vulnerability CVE-2022-28831, including relevant code snippets, links to official references, and a discussion on how the exploit can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution.

Description

The vulnerability, CVE-2022-28831, impacts Adobe InDesign versions 17.1 and earlier, as well as version 16.4.1 and earlier. An out-of-bounds write is a type of memory corruption flaw that can occur when a program writes data outside the allocated memory region which can lead to arbitrary code execution.

This vulnerability specifically requires user interaction in the form of opening a maliciously crafted file. When a victim unwittingly opens this file, an attacker can potentially execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user, potentially gaining unauthorized access to data or control over the user's machine.

Code Snippet

To give you an idea of what the code might look like, below is a mock example of code that could potentially lead to the occurrence of the out-of-bounds write vulnerability:

void process_file(char* file_contents, size_t length) {
    int index = ;
    while (index < length) {
        if (file_contents[index] == ESCAPE_CHARACTER) {
            int escape_code = file_contents[++index];
            process_escape_code(escape_code);
        } else {
            // If an attacker overwrite index to a negative value the next assignment will write
            // out-of-bounds.
            output_buffer[index++] = file_contents[index];
        }
    }
}

In this example code, the process_file function is processing a sequence of characters, handling an 'escape' character (ESCAPE_CHARACTER) with a call to process_escape_code(). However, if an attacker crafts the input file in such a way that it causes the index to be overwritten to a negative value, the subsequent assignment to output_buffer will result in an out-of-bounds write.

Original References

Adobe officially acknowledged this vulnerability and has released a patch addressing it. For more details, you can refer to the following official references:
1. Adobe Security Bulletin: APSB22-08
2. CVE Details: CVE-2022-28831
3. National Vulnerability Database (NVD): CVE-2022-28831

Exploit Details

A successful exploitation of CVE-2022-28831 requires an attacker to craft a malicious InDesign file, which can then be distributed through email attachments, social media, or other online methods. Once the file is opened, the attacker's code will be executed on the victim's machine with the same privileges as the current user.

Considering how widely used Adobe InDesign is, this vulnerability poses a considerable risk to its users. It is highly recommended that users and organizations using Adobe InDesign 17.1 or 16.4.1 and earlier apply the latest patches provided by Adobe immediately to protect themselves from potential attacks leveraging this vulnerability.

Conclusion

CVE-2022-28831 serves as a reminder of the importance of proactively updating software and being diligent about opening files from untrusted sources. Equipped with the knowledge of this specific vulnerability, users can now take steps to safeguard their systems and prevent any unauthorized access or compromise.

Timeline

Published on: 09/11/2023 14:15:00 UTC
Last modified on: 09/11/2023 14:26:00 UTC