CVE-2024-30294: Adobe Animate Buffer Overflow Vulnerability

CVE-2024-30294 Overview

CVE-2024-30294 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Adobe Animate versions 24.0.2, 23.0.5, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious file. Adobe published the issue on May 16, 2024 through security bulletin APSB24-36.

The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-122] (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and [CWE-787] (Out-of-bounds Write). Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, which limits mass exploitation but remains viable in targeted phishing campaigns delivering weaponized Animate project files.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running Adobe Animate on Windows or macOS systems.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 24.0.2 and earlier (2024 release)
Adobe Animate 23.0.5 and earlier (2023 release)
Runs on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-16 - CVE-2024-30294 published to NVD alongside Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-36
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-30294

Vulnerability Analysis

Adobe Animate improperly handles memory allocations when parsing crafted project or media files. A heap-based buffer overflow occurs when the application writes data past the end of a heap-allocated buffer, corrupting adjacent memory structures. Attackers can shape heap layout to overwrite function pointers, virtual table entries, or object metadata.

The [CWE-787] out-of-bounds write behavior gives an attacker control over memory contents that Animate later dereferences during processing. This chain converts a parsing bug into arbitrary code execution inside the Animate process. Because Animate runs with the interactive user's privileges, successful exploitation grants attackers whatever access the victim has, including local files, network shares, and cached credentials.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient bounds validation on heap-allocated buffers during file parsing. Adobe's advisory does not identify the specific parser, but heap overflows in creative-suite applications typically originate in third-party media codecs, font handling, or proprietary file format parsers. Missing length checks against attacker-controlled size fields allow the write to exceed the allocated region.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious Animate file, typically an .fla project or associated asset, and delivers it via email, chat, cloud storage links, or a compromised website. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable Animate build, the parser triggers the overflow and executes attacker-supplied shellcode.

The vulnerability manifests during file parsing before the user performs any editing action. See the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-36 for the vendor's technical summary. No public proof-of-concept exploit is currently available, and the issue is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-30294

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by Animate.exe on Windows or Adobe Animate on macOS, particularly command shells, PowerShell, or scripting hosts
Adobe Animate process crashes with heap corruption exceptions such as STATUS_HEAP_CORRUPTION or EXCEPTION_ACCESS_VIOLATION in Windows Event Logs
.fla, .xfl, or associated Animate asset files arriving from untrusted external sources
Outbound network connections initiated by the Animate process to non-Adobe infrastructure

Detection Strategies

Monitor process lineage for Adobe Animate spawning interpreters, LOLBins, or binaries outside the Adobe installation directory
Alert on Animate writing executables, scripts, or scheduled task entries to user-writable locations
Inspect email and web gateways for Animate project files delivered from external senders and quarantine for sandbox detonation

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows Defender Exploit Guard or macOS system integrity logging to capture memory corruption events in Animate
Forward endpoint telemetry to a SIEM and correlate Animate execution with subsequent file writes, registry changes, and network activity
Track installed Adobe Animate versions across the fleet and flag hosts still running 24.0.2, 23.0.5, or earlier

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-30294

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Animate to the fixed versions published in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-36
Inventory all endpoints running Adobe Animate and prioritize systems used by designers who routinely open external files
Instruct users to avoid opening .fla and related Animate assets received from untrusted sources until patching completes

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds on May 14, 2024. Administrators should deploy the updated Animate versions referenced in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB24-36 through the Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling such as the Adobe Admin Console and Remote Update Manager.

Workarounds

Restrict Adobe Animate to standard user accounts to limit the impact of code execution under the user's context
Apply application allowlisting to prevent Animate from launching child interpreters or unsigned binaries
Use email and web content filtering to block or sandbox inbound Animate project files from external senders
Enable operating system exploit mitigations such as Windows Exploit Protection and macOS Hardened Runtime for Adobe processes

bash

# Query installed Adobe Animate version on Windows via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Adobe Animate*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallLocation