CVE-2021-28609 in After Effects
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
Adobe After Effects version 18.2 (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 memory information in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
If you want to get the best quality for vulnerability data then you always have to consider VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2025
Adobe After Effects version 18.2 and earlier contains a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that stems from insufficient input validation during file parsing operations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-129 weakness category, specifically representing an improper validation of array index values where the application fails to properly bounds-check memory access when processing crafted input files. The flaw occurs within the application's file parser component that handles various media formats and project files, creating a scenario where malicious input can cause the software to read memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is classified as an information disclosure issue under the ATT&CK framework, specifically mapping to T1005 - Data from Local System, as it allows for sensitive memory content exposure.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious file that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition when After Effects attempts to parse the file structure. When a victim opens such a crafted file, the application's memory management routines execute an invalid memory read operation that can potentially expose sensitive data from adjacent memory locations. This includes potentially revealing stack contents, heap data, or other process memory that may contain authentication tokens, user credentials, or other confidential information. The vulnerability's impact is limited by the requirement for user interaction, as the victim must explicitly open the malicious file for exploitation to occur, which makes it less likely to be exploited at scale but still poses a significant risk in targeted attacks.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure, as the exposed memory contents could potentially contain sensitive application state data, cryptographic keys, or other security-relevant information that could be leveraged in subsequent attacks. Attackers could potentially use the information disclosure to bypass security mechanisms, perform credential harvesting, or gather intelligence about the target system's configuration and running processes. The vulnerability affects users who regularly work with project files and media assets, making it particularly concerning for creative professionals and organizations that rely heavily on Adobe After Effects for video editing and animation workflows. Organizations should consider implementing additional security controls such as file validation policies, restricted user permissions, and network segmentation to limit the potential impact of exploitation attempts.
Mitigation strategies should prioritize immediate patching of affected Adobe After Effects installations to version 18.3 or later, which includes fixed file parsing routines that properly validate memory access boundaries. System administrators should also implement file integrity monitoring solutions that can detect and prevent the execution of suspicious files, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of only opening files from trusted sources. Network-level protections such as email filtering and web application firewalls can help prevent the delivery of malicious files through common attack vectors. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing process isolation techniques and memory protection mechanisms to limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, as the vulnerability's nature makes it potentially exploitable for more advanced attacks if combined with other weaknesses in the target environment.