CVE-2026-48345 in Animate
Summary
by MITRE • 07/15/2026
Animate is affected by an Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') 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. Scope is changed.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/15/2026
This vulnerability represents a critical os command injection flaw in animate software that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user account. The vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements within operating system commands, creating a pathway for malicious input to be interpreted and executed as legitimate system commands rather than being treated as data. The attack vector requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a client-side exploitation scenario that leverages social engineering techniques to deliver the payload.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability typically involves the application failing to properly sanitize or escape user-supplied input before incorporating it into system command execution contexts. This allows an attacker to inject malicious command sequences that bypass normal input validation mechanisms and execute unintended operations on the target system. The flaw operates at the intersection of input handling and command execution, creating a dangerous condition where user-controllable data can directly influence system behavior through shell or command processor invocation.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution to potentially compromise complete system access and allow for privilege escalation scenarios. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to install malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, establish persistent backdoors, or perform lateral movement within network environments. The requirement for user interaction creates a specific attack surface that security teams must consider when implementing defense-in-depth strategies, as it necessitates both user awareness training and technical controls to prevent successful exploitation.
Mitigation strategies should focus on implementing robust input validation and sanitization mechanisms throughout the application codebase to prevent command injection opportunities. This includes employing parameterized command execution where possible, using allow-list validation for inputs, and ensuring proper escaping of special characters in command contexts. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-77 and CWE-88 categories related to command injection and improper neutralization of special elements. From an att&ck framework perspective, this maps to initial access through social engineering and execution techniques that leverage user interaction to establish malicious code execution capabilities.
Security teams should implement application whitelisting controls and monitor for suspicious command execution patterns in system logs. Regular security testing including dynamic analysis and penetration testing should be conducted to identify similar vulnerabilities in related components. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of principle of least privilege implementation where applications should execute with minimal required permissions to reduce potential impact from successful exploitation attempts. Additionally, user education programs focused on identifying suspicious file attachments and executable content should complement technical controls to address the social engineering component of this attack vector.