CVE-2021-28575 in Animate
Summary
by MITRE • 06/28/2021
Adobe Animate version 21.0.5 (and earlier) is affected by an Out-of-bounds Read vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to disclose sensitive information 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 • 05/03/2025
Adobe Animate version 21.0.5 and earlier contains a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified as CVE-2021-28575 that stems from inadequate input validation during file parsing operations. This vulnerability resides in the application's handling of specially crafted files that trigger memory access violations beyond the bounds of allocated buffers. The flaw manifests when the software attempts to read data from memory locations that have not been properly initialized or are outside the expected data structure boundaries, potentially exposing sensitive information stored in adjacent memory regions. The vulnerability operates under CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions that can lead to information disclosure and potentially more severe exploitation vectors. The security implications are significant as the flaw requires only user interaction to be exploited, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open files from untrusted sources.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential privilege escalation and system compromise scenarios. When a victim opens a maliciously crafted file, the out-of-bounds read can expose memory contents including but not limited to authentication tokens, cryptographic keys, or other sensitive data that may be stored in adjacent memory locations. This information disclosure can serve as a foundational vector for more sophisticated attacks, potentially enabling attackers to bypass security controls or gain unauthorized access to protected resources. The vulnerability's exploitation requires user interaction through file opening, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through application-specific attacks, making it particularly relevant in social engineering campaigns where users are诱导 to open malicious files. The attack surface is broadened by the fact that Adobe Animate is commonly used for multimedia content creation and animation, increasing the likelihood of encountering such malicious files in legitimate workflows.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-28575 should prioritize immediate software updates to Adobe Animate versions that have addressed this vulnerability through proper bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. Organizations should implement comprehensive file validation policies that include sandboxing of suspicious files, content scanning for known malicious patterns, and user education regarding the risks of opening untrusted files. Network-based defenses should incorporate deep packet inspection to identify potentially malicious file content, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability's classification as an out-of-bounds read makes it particularly susceptible to exploitation through techniques such as heap spraying or memory corruption attacks, emphasizing the need for robust memory protection mechanisms. Security teams should also consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict Adobe Animate execution to trusted environments and establish incident response procedures specifically addressing potential exploitation of this vulnerability, including monitoring for unusual memory access patterns and information disclosure events that may indicate successful exploitation attempts.