Adobe has issued critical updates across several of its Creative Cloud applications and related software, addressing a total of 29 documented security vulnerabilities. These flaws span widely used tools such as InDesign, Photoshop, and Illustrator, as well as supporting applications like InCopy, Substance 3D Stager, and Format Plugins.
Adobe’s June Patch Fixes Multiple Product Flaws
Adobe’s monthly patch release includes security bulletins for various Creative Cloud applications, many of which are essential to design professionals, illustrators, and digital artists worldwide. The company has classified several of these vulnerabilities as critical, particularly those that could lead to arbitrary code execution.
High-Risk Applications and Vulnerability Classes
The majority of the vulnerabilities target applications with substantial user bases, including:
- Photoshop – Three vulnerabilities fixed, including two critical-rated issues that could allow arbitrary code execution via specially crafted files.
- Illustrator – Received patches for three remote code execution bugs caused by memory corruption flaws.
- InDesign and InCopy – Both applications received updates for multiple high-severity vulnerabilities related to memory safety errors and use-after-free conditions.
- Substance 3D Stager – Patched for vulnerabilities rated as important to critical, addressing potential risks of privilege escalation and denial-of-service (DoS) scenarios.
- Format Plugins and Adobe Pass – While less in the public spotlight, these tools received patches for input validation bugs and memory errors that could be exploited in targeted attacks.
Several of the issues fixed allow for arbitrary code execution, the most severe class of vulnerability that occurs when attackers are able to run unauthorized code on a system. Adobe has not observed exploitation in the wild for any of the patched CVEs (Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures), but given the attack surface presented by the Creative Cloud environment, timely patching is strongly recommended.
Attack Vectors and Security Implications
Memory Corruption and Use-After-Free Vulnerabilities
A primary concern among the reported CVEs are bugs that involve improper memory management, including use-after-free and overflow conditions. These vulnerabilities are particularly dangerous in desktop applications that handle complex file formats, such as those used in Photoshop and Illustrator.
For example, malformed image files could trigger heap corruption or access freed memory pointers, leading to unpredictable behavior or unauthorized code execution once opened within the application.
“The severity of these vulnerabilities puts them squarely in the critical category, requiring immediate attention from enterprise IT teams and individual users alike,” said a security researcher familiar with sandboxing applications within creative environments.
Privilege Escalation and DoS Risks
In addition to code execution vectors, several patches address privilege escalation vulnerabilities—bugs that allow adversaries to gain higher-level access to system resources than originally permitted. While not as consistently exploitable as memory corruption bugs, they pose significant risks in environments with limited user restrictions.
Similarly, a few reported vulnerabilities in Format Plugins and Adobe Pass could enable denial-of-service conditions, potentially crashing services or blocking key creative workflows.
Patch Details and Deployment Recommendations
Adobe’s revised software updates are now available via the Adobe Creative Cloud Desktop App and standalone installers. Users are encouraged to apply patches immediately, especially in enterprise environments where vulnerable Adobe products are deployed across departments.
The detailed list of fixed vulnerabilities includes:
- 6 vulnerabilities in InDesign (CVE ratings: High to Critical)
- 5 in Illustrator (including memory corruption and heap overflow)
- 3 in Photoshop (emphasizing code execution routes via image parsing)
- 5 in Substance 3D Stager
- 4 in Adobe InCopy
- 3 in Format Plugins
- 3 in Adobe Pass
These updates follow Adobe’s standard coordinated disclosure timeline with security researchers and internal product security teams. Adobe has credited several external contributors for responsibly reporting the vulnerabilities and emphasizes the company’s focus on ongoing platform hardening.
Ongoing Focus on Adobe Software Security
While Adobe’s core software continues to evolve with performance and usability enhancements, the company faces persistent challenges in securing applications that handle high-complexity, user-generated content. Given the popularity of Creative Cloud products in both consumer and enterprise environments, Adobe remains a critical target for cybercriminals seeking exploitation pathways via document rendering engines and plugin interfaces.
Security teams are advised to monitor future advisories from Adobe and integrate Creative Cloud patching into routine vulnerability management workflows. Additionally, where possible, organizations should implement additional security measures such as sandboxing high-risk applications and restricting access to potentially dangerous file types.
In summary, Adobe’s security updates mark a timely and important step in reducing potential exploitation surface within its creative software ecosystem. Patch prioritization for code execution and memory corruption CVEs should be at the forefront of IT and security workflows, particularly in sectors where these applications are heavily utilized, such as media, marketing, and design.
