CVE-2024-30297: Adobe Animate RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-30297 Overview

CVE-2024-30297 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Adobe Animate versions 24.0.2, 23.0.5, and earlier. An attacker can achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user by delivering a crafted file. Exploitation requires user interaction: the victim must open the malicious file in Adobe Animate. Adobe addressed the flaw in security bulletin APSB24-36.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, enabling malware installation, credential theft, or lateral movement from the affected workstation.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 24.0.2 and earlier 24.x releases
Adobe Animate 23.0.5 and earlier 23.x releases
Windows and macOS installations of Adobe Animate

Discovery Timeline

2024-05-16 - CVE-2024-30297 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-30297

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-30297 is an out-of-bounds write flaw in Adobe Animate's file parsing logic. When Animate processes a malformed project or asset file, it writes data past the bounds of an allocated buffer. This corruption of adjacent memory structures allows an attacker to influence program control flow.

The vulnerability is locally exploitable and requires the user to open an attacker-supplied file. Attack complexity is low and no privileges are required beyond a normal user session. Because Animate runs with the calling user's rights, code execution occurs in that user's security context.

The issue carries CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), a class historically abused for remote code execution across creative-suite applications. The EPSS model estimates a low near-term exploitation probability, but the impact ceiling remains full compromise of the user session.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation during deserialization of file-format structures. Animate trusts length or offset fields embedded in the input file, then writes data using those values without verifying that the target address remains inside the destination buffer. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-36 for advisory-level detail.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a malicious Animate project, library, or component file and delivers it through phishing, a compromised website, a shared drive, or a supply-chain artifact. When the victim opens the file, the parser triggers the out-of-bounds write. Attackers typically pair the memory corruption with a heap-grooming primitive to overwrite a function pointer or virtual table entry and redirect execution to shellcode staged elsewhere in the process address space.

// No verified public proof-of-concept is available for CVE-2024-30297.
// The vulnerability class (CWE-787) and vendor advisory APSB24-36
// indicate a file-parsing out-of-bounds write reachable when opening
// a malicious Animate document. Refer to the vendor advisory for details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-30297

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Animate (Animate.exe on Windows, Adobe Animate on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or shell interpreters.
Unsigned or newly written executables and DLLs appearing in the user profile shortly after opening an .fla, .xfl, or related Animate asset file.
Outbound network connections initiated by the Animate process to non-Adobe domains or IP addresses.

Detection Strategies

Hunt for process-tree anomalies where Animate is the parent of scripting or command-line interpreters, which is atypical for normal editing workflows.
Alert on memory-protection violations, access violations, or crashes originating in Animate modules, which often precede successful exploitation attempts.
Correlate email or web-download telemetry with subsequent Animate file-open events to identify likely delivery of malicious documents.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable EDR file and process telemetry on all endpoints running Adobe Animate, focusing on developer and creative workstations.
Track Adobe Animate version inventory through software asset management to identify hosts still running 24.0.2, 23.0.5, or earlier.
Log file-open events for Animate project extensions from removable media, network shares, and email attachments.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-30297

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Animate to the fixed release identified in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-36 on every Windows and macOS host.
Instruct users to avoid opening Animate files from untrusted email, chat, or download sources until patching is verified.
Confirm that end users run Animate under standard, non-administrative accounts to limit the blast radius of code execution.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixes for CVE-2024-30297 in security bulletin APSB24-36. Administrators should deploy the vendor-supplied updates through Adobe Creative Cloud desktop or an enterprise deployment tool and validate the installed build after the update.

Workarounds

Block or quarantine Animate project files (.fla, .xfl, .as) received from external senders at the email gateway until patching completes.
Apply application-control policies that restrict Animate from launching command interpreters and scripting hosts.
Isolate creative workstations from sensitive network segments to contain post-exploitation movement if a user opens a malicious file.

bash

# Windows: verify installed Adobe Animate version
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Animate" /s | findstr /I "Version"

# macOS: verify installed Adobe Animate version
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe Animate 2024/Adobe Animate 2024.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString