CVE-2021-28614 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 flaw manifests when the application processes specially crafted malicious files that contain malformed data structures, causing the software to attempt reading memory locations beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The vulnerability resides in the application's file parsing logic, specifically within the handling of multimedia file formats that After Effects supports, where improper bounds checking allows arbitrary memory access patterns. The issue is classified under CWE-125 as an out-of-bounds read condition that can result in information disclosure and system instability.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure to encompass potential denial of service conditions that can severely disrupt user workflows. When exploited, the out-of-bounds read can cause the application to crash or behave unpredictably, forcing users to restart the software and potentially lose unsaved work. The memory disclosure aspect presents additional security risks as attackers may be able to extract sensitive data from the application's memory space, including potentially confidential information about the system environment or user data. This vulnerability particularly affects creative professionals who frequently work with multimedia files, making it a significant concern for both individual users and enterprise environments where After Effects is widely deployed.
Exploitation of CVE-2021-28614 requires user interaction through social engineering tactics that trick victims into opening maliciously crafted files. Attackers can distribute these files through various vectors including email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised software distribution channels. The vulnerability does not require authentication or elevated privileges, making it particularly dangerous as it can be exploited against any user who opens the malicious file. This characteristic places the vulnerability within the ATT&CK framework under the T1204.002 technique for "User Execution: Malicious File" and represents a common attack pattern that leverages human factors rather than technical system weaknesses. The attack surface is broad as After Effects is commonly used across creative industries, making it a prime target for adversaries seeking to compromise creative workflows and potentially extract sensitive project data.
Organizations and individuals should immediately update to Adobe After Effects version 18.3 or later, which includes patches addressing this vulnerability through improved bounds checking and input validation mechanisms. System administrators should implement security awareness training to help users recognize potentially malicious files and avoid opening suspicious attachments or downloading untrusted content. Network security controls such as email filtering and web proxies should be configured to block suspicious file types and prevent automatic execution of potentially harmful content. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies can help prevent unauthorized execution of malicious files, while regular system monitoring should be employed to detect any unusual behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. The patch addresses the root cause by implementing proper memory boundary checks that prevent the out-of-bounds read conditions that previously allowed memory disclosure and system instability.