CVE-2021-28619 in Animate
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
Adobe Animate version 21.0.6 (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.
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2025
Adobe Animate version 21.0.6 and earlier contains a critical out-of-bounds read vulnerability that stems from insufficient input validation during file parsing operations. This vulnerability falls under CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient validation of length of inputs to buffer operations. The flaw occurs when the application processes maliciously crafted files that contain malformed data structures, causing the software to attempt reading memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates in a manner that can expose sensitive memory contents to an attacker, potentially revealing confidential information such as encryption keys, user credentials, or internal application state data. The attack vector requires social engineering to trick users into opening malicious files, making it a user-interaction dependent exploit that aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 for exploitation for persistence and T1566 for initial access through user interaction.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability demonstrates a classic buffer over-read condition where the parsing logic fails to properly validate array indices or memory offsets before accessing data structures. When Adobe Animate encounters a specially crafted file, the application's parser does not adequately check bounds before reading from memory locations, leading to the disclosure of adjacent memory contents. This type of vulnerability can be particularly dangerous in applications that process untrusted data, as it can potentially be leveraged to extract sensitive information that may be stored in nearby memory locations. The out-of-bounds read can manifest in various ways including information disclosure, application crashes, or potentially even code execution depending on the memory layout and the specific data being accessed.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that rely on Adobe Animate for creative workflows, particularly in environments where users may encounter malicious files through email attachments, compromised websites, or other attack vectors. The requirement for user interaction means that successful exploitation depends on social engineering tactics such as phishing campaigns or malicious file sharing, but once a user opens the malicious file, the vulnerability can be exploited to gain access to sensitive information. The impact extends beyond simple information disclosure as attackers could potentially use the leaked memory contents to perform further attacks, including credential harvesting or exploitation of other system vulnerabilities that may be present in the same memory space. Organizations should consider the broader implications of this vulnerability within their security posture, as it represents a potential entry point for more sophisticated attacks.
The recommended mitigation strategy involves immediate patching of Adobe Animate to version 21.0.7 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to prevent the out-of-bounds read condition. Organizations should also implement robust email filtering and web content filtering solutions to prevent users from accessing malicious files through common attack vectors. Security awareness training should be reinforced to help users recognize potentially malicious files and avoid opening suspicious attachments or visiting compromised websites. Network segmentation and monitoring can help detect anomalous behavior that might indicate exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict execution of untrusted files, and maintain regular security assessments to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities in other applications within their environment. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and bounds checking in preventing memory corruption issues that can lead to serious security consequences.