CVE-2023-21593 : Security Advisory and Response

This CVE-2023-21593 article provides detailed information about a vulnerability affecting Adobe InDesign related to a NULL Pointer Dereference issue that could lead to application denial-of-service.

Understanding CVE-2023-21593

Adobe InDesign versions ID18.1 and earlier, as well as ID17.4 and earlier, are vulnerable to a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability. This vulnerability could potentially be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker to cause an application denial-of-service, requiring user interaction to open a malicious file.

What is CVE-2023-21593?

The CVE-2023-21593 vulnerability is classified as a NULL Pointer Dereference issue (CWE-476) within Adobe InDesign software. This type of vulnerability occurs when a pointer with a NULL value is dereferenced, leading to a crash or termination of the program.

The Impact of CVE-2023-21593

The impact of CVE-2023-21593 is rated as medium with a base score of 5.5 out of 10. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to achieve a denial-of-service condition in the application context of the affected user. The availability of the system is significantly impacted, although confidentiality and integrity remain unaffected.

Technical Details of CVE-2023-21593

This section covers specific technical details related to the CVE-2023-21593 vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Adobe InDesign involves a NULL Pointer Dereference issue, which can be leveraged by an attacker to disrupt the application's functionality and cause a denial-of-service condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Vendor: Adobe
Product: InDesign
Versions Affected:
ID18.1 and earlier
ID17.4 and earlier

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of CVE-2023-21593 requires an attacker to entice a victim into opening a malicious file, thereby triggering the NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability and initiating a denial-of-service attack.

Mitigation and Prevention

To prevent potential exploitation of CVE-2023-21593, immediate steps should be taken along with implementing long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Adobe users should update to the latest patched versions of InDesign to mitigate the NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability.
Exercise caution when opening files from unknown or untrusted sources to prevent potential exploitation.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to ensure that known vulnerabilities are patched promptly.
Employ security best practices such as network segmentation, strong password policies, and user awareness training to enhance overall security posture.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security updates to address CVE-2023-21593 within Adobe InDesign. Users are advised to apply the latest patches provided by Adobe to remediate the vulnerability and enhance the security of their systems.