CVE-2021-28606 in After Effects
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
Adobe After Effects version 18.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Stack-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. 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 • 05/03/2025
Adobe After Effects version 18.2 and earlier contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability that represents a critical security risk for users of this creative software suite. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-121, which specifically addresses stack-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows attackers to overwrite adjacent memory locations on the program stack. The flaw manifests when the application processes specially crafted files that trigger improper memory handling during parsing operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it enables remote code execution when a victim opens a malicious file, requiring only user interaction to exploit the flaw.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of memory allocation patterns during file parsing, where the application fails to properly validate input boundaries before copying data into fixed-size stack buffers. This allows an attacker to overflow the buffer and overwrite return addresses or other critical stack data, potentially enabling arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The attack vector requires social engineering to convince victims to open malicious files, but once executed, the consequences can be severe as the attacker gains full control over the affected system. This vulnerability directly maps to the ATT&CK technique T1203, which describes legitimate programs being used to perform malicious actions, as the exploit leverages the legitimate After Effects application to execute unauthorized code.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risk to creative professionals and organizations that rely heavily on Adobe After Effects for video editing and visual effects production. The requirement for user interaction makes it less likely to be exploited at scale, but it remains a serious concern for targeted attacks against specific individuals or organizations. The vulnerability affects users across multiple operating systems where After Effects is deployed, including Windows, macOS, and potentially Linux environments. Organizations should prioritize patching this vulnerability immediately, as the potential for exploitation increases with time and the availability of public exploit code. The security implications extend beyond individual user compromise to include potential lateral movement within network environments if attackers establish persistence through compromised systems.
Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of Adobe's security patches for After Effects version 18.2 and earlier, along with implementing user education programs to prevent opening suspicious files from untrusted sources. Network security controls such as email filtering and endpoint protection solutions should be configured to detect and block potentially malicious files associated with this vulnerability. System administrators should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of unauthorized software, while also monitoring for unusual file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining up-to-date software security patches and implementing defense-in-depth strategies to protect against zero-day exploits that target widely used creative applications. Regular security assessments should include vulnerability scanning for similar buffer overflow conditions in other Adobe Creative Suite applications and third-party software components that may be susceptible to similar memory corruption flaws.