CVE-2025-47119: Adobe FrameMaker Vulnerable to Denial-of-Service
Adobe FrameMaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6 and earlier are affected by a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability. This flaw can be exploited by an attacker to crash the application, resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. User interaction is required, as the victim needs to open a specially crafted malicious file.
Vulnerability Details
- CVE ID: CVE-2025-47119
- Description: Adobe FrameMaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6 and earlier are affected by a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability that could lead to application denial-of-service. An attacker could exploit this vulnerability to crash the application, causing a disruption in service. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
- CVSS Score: 5.5 (Medium)
- CVSS Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:N/I:N/A:H
Explanation: This means the vulnerability is locally exploitable with low complexity, requiring user interaction. While there is no impact on confidentiality or integrity, a successful exploit will result in a high impact on availability (denial of service).
- Exploit Requirements: User interaction is required. The victim must open a malicious file specifically crafted to trigger the NULL pointer dereference.
- Affected Vendor: Adobe
- Affected Product: FrameMaker
- Affected Versions: 2020.8, 2022.6 and earlier
- CWE: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)
Explanation: A NULL Pointer Dereference occurs when the program attempts to use a pointer that has a value of NULL. This often leads to a crash because the system cannot access the memory location that the pointer is trying to reference.
Timeline of Events
- 2025-07-08: CVE-2025-47119 Published
- TBD: Patch Release by Adobe
Exploitability & Real-World Risk
The vulnerability is relatively easy to exploit, requiring a user to simply open a malicious file. In a real-world scenario, an attacker might distribute such a file via email or social engineering tactics, hoping that a FrameMaker user will open it. Successful exploitation leads to a crash of the FrameMaker application, disrupting the user's work and potentially causing data loss if the user hasn't saved their progress.
Recommendations
- Apply Patches: Stay informed about and promptly apply security patches released by Adobe for FrameMaker.
- Exercise Caution: Be cautious when opening files from untrusted sources. Verify the sender's identity and confirm the file's authenticity before opening it.
- Security Awareness Training: Educate users about the risks of opening suspicious files and the importance of keeping their software up-to-date.
Technical Insight
A NULL pointer dereference happens when the software tries to access a memory location using a pointer that points to nothing (NULL). In Adobe FrameMaker, this could be triggered by malformed data within a file, causing the application to attempt to read from a NULL address, which the operating system prevents, resulting in a crash.
Credit to Researcher(s)
Credit for the discovery of this vulnerability goes to Adobe's internal security team.
References
Tags
CVE-2025-47119, Adobe, FrameMaker, NULL Pointer, Denial of Service, Security, Vulnerability
Summary: Adobe FrameMaker versions 2020.8, 2022.6, and earlier are vulnerable to a NULL Pointer Dereference, allowing an attacker to crash the application by enticing a user to open a malicious file. This results in a denial-of-service condition.
CVE ID: CVE-2025-47119
Risk Analysis: Successful exploitation can disrupt users' workflow and potentially lead to data loss if the user hasn't saved their progress. The risk is primarily to individual users rather than the entire system.
Recommendation: Users should apply the latest security patches released by Adobe and exercise caution when opening files from untrusted sources.
Timeline
- 2025-07-08: CVE-2025-47119 Published