CVE-2024-20797: Adobe Animate RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-20797 Overview

CVE-2024-20797 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] affecting Adobe Animate versions 23.0.4, 24.0.1, and earlier. The flaw occurs when the application parses a crafted file, allowing a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. An attacker can leverage this issue to execute code in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a malicious file. Adobe published the security advisory on April 11, 2024.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user through a crafted Animate project file.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 23.0.4 and earlier
Adobe Animate 24.0.1 and earlier
Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations

Discovery Timeline

2024-04-11 - CVE-2024-20797 published to NVD
2024-04-11 - Adobe releases security advisory APSB24-26
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-20797

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability resides in the file parsing logic of Adobe Animate. When the application processes a specifically crafted input file, it reads memory beyond the bounds of an allocated buffer. This out-of-bounds read condition can leak adjacent memory contents and, when combined with controlled inputs, enable arbitrary code execution within the user's session.

The issue is classified under CWE-125: Out-of-bounds Read. Because Animate handles complex binary and XML-based project formats, the parser must validate offsets, lengths, and structure sizes against allocated boundaries. A missing or insufficient bounds check on one of these fields creates the exploitable primitive.

Exploitation is local and requires user interaction. A victim must open the malicious file, typically delivered through email, file sharing, or a compromised web download.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of input-controlled length or offset values during parsing of a crafted Animate file. The parser trusts values inside the file that determine how many bytes to read from an allocated structure, leading to reads past the buffer end.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a malicious Animate project file and delivers it via phishing, watering hole, or supply chain distribution. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of Animate, the parser triggers the out-of-bounds read. Depending on process memory layout, the attacker chains this primitive with additional weaknesses to achieve code execution under the current user's privileges.

No public proof-of-concept or exploit code is available at the time of writing, and this CVE is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. See the Adobe Animate Security Advisory for vendor guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-20797

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes or exception events from Animate.exe on Windows or the Animate process on macOS shortly after opening a project file
Animate spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters that are not part of normal workflow
Newly created or modified Animate project files (.fla, .xfl) received from untrusted sources

Detection Strategies

Monitor Adobe Animate process telemetry for anomalous child process creation and memory access violations
Alert on Animate performing outbound network connections to non-Adobe destinations after opening a document
Correlate email or web-download events delivering Animate project files with subsequent process anomalies on the receiving host

Monitoring Recommendations

Track Animate version inventory across endpoints to identify unpatched hosts running 23.0.4 or 24.0.1 and earlier
Log file open events for Animate document extensions and retain for retrospective hunting
Enable application crash reporting to identify parser faults consistent with out-of-bounds reads

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-20797

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Animate to the fixed versions listed in Adobe advisory APSB24-26 on all Windows and macOS endpoints
Restrict opening Animate files received from external or untrusted sources until patching is complete
Educate users about the risk of opening unsolicited .fla or .xfl files delivered by email or messaging platforms

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2024-20797 in the security update documented in Adobe Animate Security Advisory APSB24-26. Administrators should deploy the patched builds through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling.

Workarounds

Block inbound Animate project files at email and web gateways until endpoints are patched
Use application allowlisting to restrict Animate execution to users with a business need
Run Animate under a standard user account rather than an administrator to limit post-exploitation impact

bash

# Verify installed Adobe Animate version on Windows (PowerShell)
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Animate*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, Publisher