CVE-2024-20745 in Premiere Pro
Summary
by MITRE • 03/18/2024
Premiere Pro versions 24.1, 23.6.2 and earlier are affected by a Heap-based Buffer Overflow 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 • 04/15/2025
Adobe Premiere Pro versions 24.1, 23.6.2 and earlier contain a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability designated as CVE-2024-20745 that presents a significant security risk to users. This vulnerability resides within the application's handling of malformed media files and represents a critical weakness that could be exploited by attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected systems. The flaw occurs when the software processes specially crafted files that trigger improper memory allocation behavior during the parsing of media content. The vulnerability is classified as a heap-based buffer overflow under CWE-121, which specifically addresses buffer overflow conditions where data is written beyond the boundaries of heap-allocated buffers. This type of vulnerability falls under the ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for exploit for client execution, making it particularly dangerous in targeted attack scenarios.
The exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction through the simple but effective social engineering technique of tricking victims into opening maliciously crafted media files. When a user opens such a file, the buffer overflow occurs in the heap memory region where Premiere Pro stores temporary data during media processing operations. The overflow allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent memory locations with malicious code, potentially leading to complete system compromise. The vulnerability's impact is particularly severe because it operates in the context of the currently logged-in user, meaning that successful exploitation could result in privilege escalation depending on the user's access level and system configuration. This characteristic aligns with ATT&CK tactic TA0004 - privilege escalation and TA0003 - persistence, as attackers could establish persistent access through the executed malicious code. The heap overflow specifically affects Premiere Pro's media file parsing functionality and occurs during the processing of multimedia content that does not conform to expected file formats or structures.
The operational impact of CVE-2024-20745 extends beyond simple arbitrary code execution to encompass potential data loss, system instability, and unauthorized access to sensitive information. Organizations using affected Premiere Pro versions face significant risk when handling media files from untrusted sources, as even a single compromised file could compromise entire workflows and production environments. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal technical skill from attackers, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where users may inadvertently open malicious files through email attachments, file sharing platforms, or compromised content repositories. Security professionals should note that this vulnerability is particularly concerning for creative agencies, media production companies, and organizations that frequently process third-party media content, as these environments provide the perfect conditions for successful exploitation. The vulnerability's presence in multiple versions including 24.1 and 23.6.2 indicates a widespread impact across the Adobe Premiere Pro user base, necessitating immediate remediation efforts. Organizations should implement layered security approaches including email filtering, file validation, and regular software updates to protect against this threat, as the vulnerability's exploitation can occur without requiring elevated privileges or complex attack vectors.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2024-20745 should prioritize immediate software updates to the latest available versions of Adobe Premiere Pro where the vulnerability has been patched. Adobe has released security updates addressing this issue, and users should promptly apply these patches to eliminate the risk of exploitation. Additionally, organizations should implement strict file validation procedures for media content, particularly when processing files from external sources or unknown origins. Network-based security controls including intrusion detection systems and content filtering solutions can help detect and prevent the delivery of malicious files to affected systems. Users should be trained to recognize potential social engineering attempts and avoid opening suspicious files from untrusted sources. System hardening measures such as enabling address space layout randomization and data execution prevention can provide additional protection against exploitation attempts. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file processing activities within Premiere Pro and related applications, as these could indicate attempted exploitation of the vulnerability. The combination of these defensive measures creates a comprehensive approach to protecting against CVE-2024-20745 and similar heap-based buffer overflow vulnerabilities that threaten creative software applications.