CVE-2024-39380: Adobe After Effects RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-39380 Overview

CVE-2024-39380 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting Adobe After Effects versions 23.6.6, 24.5, and earlier. The flaw allows attackers to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious project or media file crafted by the attacker. The vulnerability affects installations on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB24-55.

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

Affected Products

Adobe After Effects 23.6.6 and earlier
Adobe After Effects 24.5 and earlier
Windows and macOS installations of the affected versions

Discovery Timeline

2024-09-13 - CVE-2024-39380 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-39380

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow [CWE-122] rooted in improper restriction of operations within the bounds of a memory buffer [CWE-119]. After Effects parses a wide range of project, composition, and media file formats. When the application processes a malformed file, a parser writes data past the end of an allocated heap buffer.

The out-of-bounds write corrupts adjacent heap metadata or object pointers. An attacker who controls the overflow content can steer program flow toward attacker-controlled code, achieving arbitrary code execution under the current user's account. The flaw is a client-side issue requiring local file processing rather than a network-exposed service.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking when After Effects parses fields from an untrusted input file. A length or count value read from the file is used to size or index a heap allocation without validation against the actual buffer capacity. This mismatch allows a crafted file to trigger the overflow during import or preview.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious After Effects project file or media asset through phishing email, a shared production drive, a compromised template repository, or a supply-chain compromise of a plugin or asset vendor. When the victim opens the file in After Effects, the parser triggers the overflow and executes the attacker's payload with the user's privileges.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is available and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Adobe Security Patch APSB24-55 advisory for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-39380

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by AfterFX.exe on Windows or After Effects.app on macOS, particularly shells, script interpreters, or rundll32.exe.
After Effects crashes or unexpected exits immediately after opening a project file or third-party template.
Outbound network connections initiated by the After Effects process to unfamiliar hosts shortly after a file open event.
Newly created executables, DLLs, or scheduled tasks in the user profile directory following a file open in After Effects.

Detection Strategies

Monitor process ancestry for After Effects spawning uncommon children such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, osascript, or curl.
Alert on writes to autorun locations (Run keys, Startup folders, LaunchAgents) sourced from the After Effects process.
Inspect crash telemetry from After Effects for heap corruption signatures in modules that handle project or media parsing.

Monitoring Recommendations

Ingest endpoint process, file, and network telemetry from workstations running creative applications into a central data lake for correlation.
Track After Effects version inventory across managed endpoints and flag hosts still running 23.6.6, 24.5, or earlier.
Baseline typical file types opened by After Effects users and alert on project files delivered through email or unmanaged cloud storage.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-39380

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe security update referenced in APSB24-55 to all After Effects installations.
Inventory endpoints for After Effects 23.6.6, 24.5, and earlier, and prioritize patching workstations used by artists who handle external assets.
Instruct users to open project files and templates only from trusted, verified sources.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds for After Effects in the APSB24-55 security bulletin. Update through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or deploy the updated installers via enterprise software management. Verify the installed version after patching to confirm remediation.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of After Effects project files (.aep, .aepx) received from untrusted sources until patches are applied.
Run After Effects under standard user accounts rather than local administrator accounts to limit the impact of code execution.
Enforce application allowlisting to block child processes not required by the After Effects workflow.

bash

# Verify installed After Effects version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects" /s | findstr /i "Version"

# Verify installed After Effects version on macOS
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe After Effects 2024/Adobe After Effects 2024.app"