CVE-2023-22239 in After Affects
Summary
by MITRE • 02/18/2023
After Affects versions 23.1 (and earlier), 22.6.3 (and earlier) are affected by an Improper Input Validation vulnerability that could result in 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.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/27/2025
This vulnerability resides within software versions 23.1 and earlier, as well as 22.6.3 and earlier, representing a critical improper input validation flaw that enables arbitrary code execution when exploited. The vulnerability operates under the weakness category defined by CWE-20, which specifically addresses Improper Input Validation, a fundamental security weakness that occurs when software fails to properly validate or sanitize input data before processing. The attack vector requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a user-initiated exploit rather than an automated attack. The security implications are severe as the execution occurs within the context of the current user, meaning that if successful, an attacker could execute malicious code with the privileges of the targeted user account. This vulnerability demonstrates the classic pattern where insufficient input validation allows attackers to inject malicious content that gets processed without proper sanitization, creating an attack surface that can be leveraged for privilege escalation or system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a malicious file that, when opened by an unsuspecting user, triggers the improper input validation flaw within the affected software. This type of attack aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.001, which covers Command and Scripting Interpreter, as the malicious code execution occurs through legitimate system interpreters or processing mechanisms. The vulnerability essentially creates a code injection scenario where the software's input handling mechanism fails to properly validate file content, allowing attackers to embed malicious payloads that execute when the file is processed. This represents a significant risk because the exploitation requires only user interaction rather than sophisticated network-level attacks, making it particularly dangerous in environments where users frequently open files from untrusted sources. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially enable further compromise of the system through privilege escalation or lateral movement within the network.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends across multiple security domains including endpoint protection, user awareness, and incident response capabilities. Organizations must consider the broader implications of user interaction requirements in their security posture, as this vulnerability demonstrates how social engineering can be combined with software flaws to create effective attack vectors. The remediation process involves updating to patched versions of the affected software, which aligns with standard vulnerability management practices. Security teams should implement file validation policies and user education programs to reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation. The vulnerability also highlights the importance of principle of least privilege implementations, where user accounts should operate with minimal necessary permissions to limit the impact of successful exploitation. From a compliance standpoint, this vulnerability could potentially violate various security standards including iso 27001, which requires organizations to maintain secure systems and protect against unauthorized access. The vulnerability's classification under CWE-20 emphasizes the need for robust input validation mechanisms throughout software development lifecycle processes to prevent similar issues from arising in future versions of the software.