CVE-2021-21071 in Animate
Summary
by MITRE • 03/13/2021
Adobe Animate version 21.0.3 (and earlier) is affected by a Memory Corruption vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/04/2025
Adobe Animate version 21.0.3 and earlier contains a memory corruption vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw classified under CWE-122 which deals with insufficient synchronization of memory accesses. This vulnerability stems from improper handling of memory allocation and deallocation processes within the software's file parsing mechanisms, creating potential for heap-based buffer overflows that can be exploited through malformed file inputs. The flaw occurs when the application processes specially crafted files that trigger unexpected memory operations, leading to memory corruption that can be leveraged by malicious actors to execute arbitrary code.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction as specified in the CVE description, meaning that a victim must willingly open a malicious file to initiate the attack vector. This user interaction requirement places the vulnerability in the context of social engineering attacks where users might be tricked into opening seemingly legitimate files that contain malicious payloads. The attack scenario typically involves an attacker crafting a specially designed file that, when opened in Adobe Animate, triggers the memory corruption flaw. This vulnerability operates at the application level and can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would allow attackers to execute arbitrary commands within the context of the current user's privileges.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it can potentially allow attackers to escalate privileges, access sensitive data, or establish persistent access to affected systems. Memory corruption vulnerabilities of this nature are particularly dangerous because they can lead to complete system compromise when combined with other exploitation techniques or when the target application runs with elevated privileges. The vulnerability affects a broad user base since Adobe Animate is widely used for creating multimedia content and animations, making it an attractive target for attackers seeking to exploit common software applications. The memory corruption issue creates a pathway for attackers to bypass traditional security controls and gain unauthorized access to systems that have Adobe Animate installed.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patch management to address this vulnerability, as Adobe has released security updates to remediate the memory corruption flaw. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies and user education programs to reduce the risk of exploitation through social engineering tactics. The mitigation strategy should include disabling unnecessary file type associations, implementing application whitelisting where possible, and monitoring for suspicious file access patterns. Security teams should also consider network-level controls to prevent the distribution of malicious files through email attachments or file sharing systems. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue aligns with industry best practices for vulnerability management, emphasizing the need for comprehensive security measures that address both the technical flaw and the human factors that enable exploitation.