# CVE-2020-9727: Out-of-bounds memory access could lead to code execution

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code by tricking a user into opening a malicious InDesign file, affecting Adobe InDesign users.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 10 Sep 2020
- **Updated:** 17 Sep 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-xr8r-7f7p-x5r5

## What is CVE-2020-9727?

CVE-2020-9727 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Indesign, published on 10 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

A memory corruption vulnerability exists in InDesign 15.1.1 (and earlier versions). Insecure handling of a malicious indd file could be abused to cause an out-of-bounds memory access, potentially resulting in code execution in the context of the current user.

Weakness: CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), CWE-788 (Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2020-9727?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Adobe Indesign.

## How do I fix CVE-2020-9727?

No fix has been published for CVE-2020-9727 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2020-9727 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9727 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Indesign

- [CVE-2019-7107](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2019-7107/): Code injection in InDesign (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2017-11302](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2017-11302/): Memory corruption in Adobe InDesign 12.1.0 and earlier versions (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2016-7886](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2016-7886/): Memory corruption in Adobe InDesign 11.4.1 and earlier, InDesign Server 11.0.0 and earlier (critical 9.8)
- [CVE-2021-36004](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-36004/): Adobe InDesign CoolType out of bounds write vulnerability could lead to arbitrary stack manipulation (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-21098](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-21098/): Adobe InDesign PCX file parsing out-of-bounds write vulnerability could lead to remote code execution (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2020-9727 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2020-9727 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Indesign, published on 10 Sep 2020. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2020-9727 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Adobe Indesign. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9727/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9727/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-9727
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-9727
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-9727

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9727/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.