CVE-2024-39377: Adobe Media Encoder RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-39377 Overview

CVE-2024-39377 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] in Adobe Media Encoder versions 24.5, 23.6.8 and earlier. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Adobe published the vulnerability in security advisory APSB24-53. The issue affects installations on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious file crafted by the attacker. Because code executes under the current user's privileges, an attacker who reaches an authenticated workstation can pivot from a document-open action to full user compromise.

Critical Impact
Opening a malicious media project file can trigger arbitrary code execution under the current user, enabling data theft, persistence, and lateral movement from creative workstations.

Affected Products

Adobe Media Encoder 24.5 and earlier (24.x branch)
Adobe Media Encoder 23.6.8 and earlier (23.x branch)
Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-09-13 - CVE-2024-39377 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-39377

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-39377 is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] in the Media Encoder file parsing pipeline. The application writes data past the boundary of an allocated buffer while processing untrusted content from a media project or asset file. That write corrupts adjacent memory structures, which an attacker can shape to hijack control flow and execute arbitrary code. Execution occurs in the security context of the user running Media Encoder, so an attacker inherits access to local files, mapped drives, and cached credentials on the host.

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. The victim must open a malicious file, typically delivered through email, chat, shared storage, or a compromised project repository. Media Encoder is frequently used by editorial and post-production teams that routinely open third-party assets, which increases the practical exposure of this weakness.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking when Media Encoder parses attacker-controlled fields in a media file. Fields that influence buffer sizes or offsets are trusted without validation, so a crafted structure induces a write beyond the intended allocation. Adobe has not published the specific parser or codec at fault; see the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-53 for vendor detail.

Attack Vector

An attacker crafts a malicious media file and delivers it to a Media Encoder user. When the user opens the file, the parser processes the malformed structure and triggers the out-of-bounds write. The attacker then executes shellcode or a follow-on payload as the current user. No network path or authentication bypass is required. Because privileges match the interactive user, attackers commonly chain this class of bug with a local privilege escalation to reach SYSTEM or root.

No public proof-of-concept or exploit is listed in the enriched data, and the vulnerability is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39377

Indicators of Compromise

Media Encoder (Adobe Media Encoder.exe on Windows, Adobe Media Encoder on macOS) spawning command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, or osascript.
Crashes or unexpected termination of Media Encoder correlated with opening files from email attachments, downloads, or removable media.
New persistence artifacts created shortly after Media Encoder launches a media file, including scheduled tasks, Run keys, or LaunchAgents.
Outbound network connections from the Media Encoder process to previously unseen domains or IP addresses.

Detection Strategies

Alert on child processes of Media Encoder that are not part of the normal encoding toolchain.
Hunt for Media Encoder module loads originating from user-writable directories such as %TEMP%, %APPDATA%, or ~/Downloads.
Correlate Media Encoder file-open telemetry with subsequent file writes to autostart locations within a short time window.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track Media Encoder version inventory to identify hosts still running builds at or below 24.5 or 23.6.8.
Monitor file-share and collaboration platforms for uploads of media project files from external identities.
Log and review Media Encoder crash telemetry from Windows Error Reporting and macOS CrashReporter for exploitation attempts.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39377

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Media Encoder to the fixed versions listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-53 on both Windows and macOS endpoints.
Restrict opening of untrusted media project files, especially those received by email or downloaded from external sources.
Ensure Media Encoder users operate under standard (non-administrator) accounts to limit post-exploitation impact.

Patch Information

Adobe addressed CVE-2024-39377 in the updates published in APSB24-53. Administrators should deploy the vendor-supplied installers or use the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop client to move affected hosts off Media Encoder 24.5 and 23.6.8. Verify the installed build after deployment and re-image or repair any hosts that fail to update cleanly.

Workarounds

Where patching is delayed, block execution of Media Encoder on hosts that do not require it using application control policies.
Sandbox or preview untrusted media files in an isolated virtual machine before opening them in a production Media Encoder installation.
Apply endpoint policies that prevent Media Encoder from spawning shell interpreters or writing to autostart locations.

bash

# Windows: verify installed Media Encoder version
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Media Encoder*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion

# macOS: verify installed Media Encoder version
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe Media Encoder 2024/Adobe Media Encoder 2024.app"