CVE-2024-41859: Adobe After Effects RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-41859 Overview

CVE-2024-41859 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] affecting Adobe After Effects versions 23.6.6, 24.5, and earlier on both Windows and macOS. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The flaw requires user interaction: a victim must open a crafted malicious file in After Effects. Adobe addressed the issue in security advisory APSB24-55. The vulnerability was published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD) on September 13, 2024.

Critical Impact
Attackers can achieve arbitrary code execution on affected workstations when a user opens a malicious After Effects project file, enabling full compromise of the user session.

Affected Products

Adobe After Effects 23.6.6 and earlier 23.x versions
Adobe After Effects 24.5 and earlier 24.x versions
Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-09-13 - CVE-2024-41859 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-41859

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write in Adobe After Effects file-parsing logic. When After Effects processes a malformed project or media file, the application writes data beyond the bounds of an allocated buffer. This memory corruption can overwrite adjacent structures, function pointers, or control data used by the process. An attacker who controls the layout of the crafted file can steer execution flow and run arbitrary code inside the After Effects process. Because After Effects runs with the privileges of the logged-in user, the attacker inherits access to that user's files, credentials cached in the session, and network resources.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect boundary validation during parsing of untrusted file content [CWE-787]. Sizes or offsets taken from the input file are used to index into a buffer without verifying that the write remains within the allocated region. This class of defect is characteristic of complex binary media parsers that handle many container and codec formats.

Attack Vector

Exploitation is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious After Effects file through email, a shared drive, a compromised website, or a supply-chain artifact such as a project template. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable After Effects build, the parser triggers the out-of-bounds write and the attacker's shellcode or ROP chain executes. No network-facing service is exposed by this issue, and no elevated privileges are required beyond those of the interactive user.

No public proof-of-concept is available. See the Adobe Security Advisory
APSB24-55 for vendor-supplied technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-41859

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected crashes of AfterFX.exe (Windows) or After Effects (macOS) shortly after a user opens a project or asset file from an untrusted source.
After Effects spawning child processes that are not part of normal workflows, such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, curl, or osascript.
Outbound network connections initiated by the After Effects process to previously unseen hosts.
Creation or modification of executable content, scheduled tasks, or LaunchAgents by the After Effects process.

Detection Strategies

Alert on any process creation where the parent is After Effects and the child is a shell, scripting host, or living-off-the-land binary.
Hunt for After Effects process crashes correlated with recently opened files from mail attachments, browser downloads, or removable media.
Inventory installed After Effects builds across endpoints and flag versions at or below 23.6.6 and 24.5.

Monitoring Recommendations

Collect endpoint process, file, and network telemetry from all creative workstations, not only servers.
Monitor download directories and mail gateways for .aep, .aepx, and other After Effects project artifacts arriving from external senders.
Track user-opened files with unusual sizes, structures, or origins that precede After Effects instability.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-41859

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe After Effects to a version released in or after Adobe advisory APSB24-55 on every Windows and macOS endpoint.
Identify legacy 23.x installs and remove or update them; do not rely on the current-user permission model as a boundary.
Instruct users not to open After Effects project files received from untrusted sources until patching is complete.

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds as documented in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-55. Administrators should deploy the fixed versions through Adobe Creative Cloud packaging or an enterprise software distribution tool and verify installed versions post-deployment.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of After Effects project files to those originating from trusted, verified sources.
Run After Effects under standard user accounts without local administrator rights to limit post-exploitation impact.
Use email and web gateways to block or sandbox inbound Adobe project file types until endpoints are patched.

bash

# Windows: query installed After Effects version via registry
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects" /s /v Version

# macOS: check installed After Effects version
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe After Effects 2024/Adobe After Effects 2024.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString