CVE-2021-28611 in After Effects
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
Adobe After Effects version 18.2 (and earlier) is affected by an Our-of-bounds Read vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to disclose sensitive memory information and cause a 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 out-of-bounds read vulnerability that stems from insufficient input validation during file parsing operations. This vulnerability falls under the CWE-125 weakness category, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions where an application attempts to access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The flaw occurs when the software processes specially crafted malicious files that contain malformed data structures, causing the application to read memory regions that are not properly validated or constrained. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates within the context of the current user, meaning that successful exploitation requires only user interaction through opening a malicious file rather than requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors.
The technical execution of this vulnerability involves a precise manipulation of file format structures that causes the parsing engine to traverse memory locations beyond intended boundaries. When After Effects attempts to parse the crafted file, the application's file parser fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits, leading to memory access violations that can expose sensitive data from adjacent memory regions. This type of vulnerability represents a classic example of memory safety issues that have been extensively documented in cybersecurity literature and commonly categorized under the ATT&CK technique T1203 - Exploitation for Client Execution. The out-of-bounds read allows an attacker to potentially extract information such as stack canaries, heap metadata, or other sensitive memory contents that could be leveraged for more sophisticated attacks or to aid in bypassing security mitigations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple denial of service scenarios, as the memory disclosure aspect creates potential for information leakage that could aid in advanced exploitation techniques. When a user opens a malicious file, the application crashes or behaves unpredictably, leading to service disruption and potential data loss. However, the more insidious aspect involves the possibility of sensitive information disclosure that could reveal memory layout details, which are crucial for developing more advanced exploits targeting the same application or system components. This vulnerability particularly affects creative professionals who frequently handle third-party assets and may inadvertently open compromised files from untrusted sources, making it a significant risk in enterprise environments where design and media workflows are common.
Organizations and users should immediately update to Adobe After Effects version 18.3 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. The fix involves implementing proper bounds checking during file parsing operations and ensuring that all array accesses are validated against allocated buffer sizes before memory access occurs. System administrators should conduct thorough vulnerability assessments to identify any systems running vulnerable versions and ensure all users receive appropriate security awareness training regarding the risks of opening untrusted files. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting user permissions when opening files from unknown sources can provide additional defense-in-depth measures. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper input validation practices, as outlined in industry standards such as the OWASP Top Ten and NIST cybersecurity guidelines for preventing memory safety issues in software applications.