CVE-2021-28601 in After Effects
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
Adobe After Effects version 18.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Null pointer dereference vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve an application denial-of-service 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 After Effects version 18.2 and earlier contains a critical null pointer dereference vulnerability that manifests during the parsing of maliciously crafted files. This flaw resides in the application's file processing logic where insufficient input validation leads to a scenario where a null pointer is dereferenced during file parsing operations. The vulnerability specifically affects the software's handling of malformed or specially constructed file formats that trigger unexpected memory access patterns. According to the Common Weakness Enumeration framework, this represents a CWE-476: NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability that occurs when a program attempts to access memory through a null pointer reference. The issue falls under the broader category of memory safety vulnerabilities that can lead to application instability and potential system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial-of-service conditions as it creates a potential attack vector for malicious actors seeking to disrupt creative workflows. When a victim opens a maliciously crafted file, the application crashes due to the null pointer dereference, resulting in an application crash that can cause data loss and productivity interruption. The vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit, meaning that an attacker must convince a target to open a specifically crafted file, which typically involves social engineering techniques or supply chain compromise. This user interaction requirement aligns with ATT&CK technique T1204.002: User Execution - Malicious File, where adversaries leverage social engineering to get users to execute malicious payloads.
From a security perspective, this vulnerability represents a significant concern for creative professionals who regularly work with third-party assets and collaborative projects. The application denial-of-service condition can be particularly disruptive in professional environments where After Effects is used for critical production workflows. The vulnerability's impact is limited to the application context rather than system-wide compromise, but the potential for repeated exploitation and the disruption it causes makes it a serious concern for organizations. The null pointer dereference occurs during legitimate file parsing operations, making the attack surface relatively narrow but highly targeted. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability demonstrates the importance of robust input validation in multimedia processing applications where malformed files can trigger unexpected behavior. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability to prevent potential exploitation through crafted files that could be encountered in typical creative workflows or through malicious file delivery mechanisms.