CVE-2021-39824 in Premiere Elements version
Summary
by MITRE • 09/28/2021
Adobe Premiere Elements version 2021.2235820 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability due to insecure handling of a malicious png file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/03/2025
Adobe Premiere Elements version 2021.2235820 and earlier versions contain a memory corruption vulnerability classified as CVE-2021-39824 that stems from insecure handling of malicious png image files. This vulnerability resides in the application's image parsing functionality and represents a classic buffer overflow condition that can be triggered through improper memory management when processing specially crafted png files. The flaw occurs during the decompression and rendering process of png image data, where insufficient bounds checking allows an attacker to manipulate memory layout through crafted image metadata or pixel data structures. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-121 as a stack-based buffer overflow, which is a well-documented weakness in software applications that handle binary data formats without proper input validation mechanisms.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning that an attacker must convince a victim to open a malicious png file within Adobe Premiere Elements. This interaction typically occurs through social engineering tactics such as email attachments, malicious websites, or compromised file sharing platforms. When the application attempts to load and render the crafted png file, the insecure memory handling causes a buffer overflow that can overwrite adjacent memory locations, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The attack vector specifically targets the image processing pipeline where png files are parsed and converted into internal data structures for video editing operations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it can enable attackers to escalate privileges and gain persistent access to the victim's system. Successful exploitation could allow threat actors to install malware, steal sensitive data, modify video projects, or establish backdoors within the victim's environment. The vulnerability affects users who regularly process or import png files into their video editing workflows, making it particularly dangerous in professional settings where multimedia content is frequently shared and edited. Security researchers have identified that the vulnerability can be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks and lateral movement within network environments where Adobe Premiere Elements is deployed across multiple systems.
Organizations should prioritize immediate patch management to address this vulnerability, as Adobe has released updates containing fixes for the memory corruption issue. The recommended mitigation strategy involves updating to the latest version of Adobe Premiere Elements where the insecure png handling has been corrected through proper bounds checking and memory allocation procedures. System administrators should also implement additional security controls such as restricting user access to image file processing capabilities, deploying sandboxing mechanisms for media file handling, and monitoring for unusual file processing activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, making it a significant concern for enterprise security teams. Organizations should also consider implementing network segmentation to limit the potential impact of successful exploitation and establish incident response procedures to address potential compromise of user systems.