CVE-2021-28608 in After Effects
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
Adobe After Effects version 18.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Heap-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 heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that represents a critical security risk for users working with multimedia content. This vulnerability resides in the application's file parsing mechanism, specifically when processing specially crafted malicious files that trigger improper memory handling during content rendering. The flaw manifests as a classic heap overflow condition where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to write beyond allocated memory boundaries, potentially corrupting adjacent memory regions and creating opportunities for code execution. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-121 Heap-based Buffer Overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software security that has been exploited in numerous high-profile attacks. The attack vector requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a client-side exploitation scenario that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates how multimedia applications face unique security challenges due to their complex parsing requirements for various file formats. When After Effects processes malformed input files, the application fails to validate the size and structure of memory allocations, allowing an attacker to craft input that exceeds buffer limits. This overflow can overwrite critical memory locations including return addresses, function pointers, or other control data structures that govern program execution flow. The exploitation scenario requires that users open the malicious file, which creates a user interaction dependency that can be leveraged through social engineering tactics, phishing campaigns, or malicious file sharing. Attackers could potentially deliver these payloads through compromised websites, email attachments, or file-sharing platforms where users might legitimately open After Effects files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to encompass potential system compromise and data exposure. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, which could lead to full system compromise if the user has administrative rights. The vulnerability affects a widely used creative software application, meaning that legitimate users are at risk from both targeted attacks and broader threat campaigns that exploit the application's popularity. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that After Effects is commonly used in professional environments where users might handle sensitive corporate or client data. The vulnerability's presence in the software also indicates potential issues with memory management and input validation that could affect other similar applications within Adobe's ecosystem.
Organizations and users should implement immediate mitigation strategies to reduce exposure to this vulnerability. The most effective immediate action is to update to Adobe After Effects version 18.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the heap-based buffer overflow. System administrators should enforce strict file access controls and implement application whitelisting policies to prevent unauthorized file execution. Security teams should monitor for suspicious file opening activities and consider implementing sandboxing techniques for handling untrusted multimedia files. Network security controls such as intrusion detection systems should be configured to detect potential exploitation attempts targeting this specific vulnerability. The remediation approach should also include user education about the risks of opening untrusted files, particularly those received through email or downloaded from unknown sources, as this vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit. Organizations should also consider implementing endpoint protection solutions that can detect and block malicious file execution attempts, especially in environments where creative professionals regularly handle multimedia content from external sources.