CVE-2021-28629 in Animate
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2021
Adobe Animate version 21.0.6 (and earlier) is affected by a Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability. 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.
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 Animate version 21.0.6 and earlier contains a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that represents a critical security flaw in the software's handling of malformed input files. This vulnerability falls under the Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-129, which specifically addresses insufficient size checks for input validation. The flaw occurs when the application processes specially crafted files that trigger improper memory allocation during the parsing of multimedia content, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited to execute arbitrary code. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it requires only user interaction to be exploited, meaning that a victim must simply open a malicious file to be compromised, making it highly effective for social engineering attacks.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from inadequate bounds checking within Adobe Animate's file parsing routines. When processing certain file formats, the application allocates memory buffers on the heap without sufficient validation of input data lengths. This allows an attacker to craft a malicious file that deliberately exceeds the allocated buffer size, causing a heap overflow condition. The overflow can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially corrupting critical program data structures or even allowing for the manipulation of program control flow. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because it operates within the context of the current user, meaning that successful exploitation could result in complete system compromise without requiring elevated privileges. The vulnerability is classified under the MITRE ATT&CK framework as a technique for code injection, specifically leveraging memory corruption to achieve arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple exploitation scenarios, as it provides attackers with a potential pathway for persistent system compromise. Once a user opens the malicious file, the attacker gains the ability to execute code with the privileges of the current user account, which could lead to data exfiltration, system monitoring, or further lateral movement within a network. The vulnerability affects users who may unknowingly open infected files through email attachments, web downloads, or removable media, making it a significant risk for enterprise environments where users frequently interact with external content. Organizations utilizing Adobe Animate for creative workflows are particularly vulnerable since the software is commonly used to process various multimedia formats that could be manipulated by threat actors.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should prioritize immediate patching of Adobe Animate installations to version 21.1.0 or later, which contains the necessary fixes for the heap-based buffer overflow. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies, particularly for files originating from untrusted sources, and consider deploying sandboxing solutions to isolate file processing activities. Network-based protections such as intrusion detection systems can help identify potential exploitation attempts, while user education programs should emphasize the importance of avoiding suspicious file attachments. The vulnerability also highlights the necessity of implementing defense-in-depth strategies, including regular security assessments of creative software environments and monitoring for unusual file processing activities. Organizations should also consider restricting user privileges where possible, as this can limit the potential damage from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, the use of application whitelisting solutions can prevent unauthorized execution of malicious files, while regular security updates and patch management processes should be implemented to address similar vulnerabilities in other Adobe products that may share similar codebases.