CVE-2024-47415 Overview
CVE-2024-47415 is a Use After Free vulnerability [CWE-416] in Adobe Animate versions 23.0.7, 24.0.4, and earlier. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The flaw requires local access and user interaction, since a victim must open a crafted Animate file. Adobe published fixes in security advisory APSB24-76 on October 8, 2024.
Critical Impact
Attackers can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the logged-in user by tricking the user into opening a malicious Animate document.
Affected Products
- Adobe Animate 23.0.7 and earlier (Windows, macOS)
- Adobe Animate 24.0.4 and earlier (Windows, macOS)
- Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows hosts running the affected Animate versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-09 - CVE-2024-47415 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-47415
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2024-47415 is a Use After Free condition in Adobe Animate's file parsing logic. The application dereferences a pointer to memory that has already been freed while processing a crafted project file. Attackers control the freed memory region by grooming the heap through document objects, which lets them redirect execution to attacker-supplied data.
Because Animate runs with the privileges of the interactive user, successful exploitation compromises the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the host. Full details are documented in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-76.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper lifetime management of an internal object during document parsing. The code path releases an object while retaining a pointer to it and later reuses that dangling reference. When the attacker reclaims the freed allocation with controlled content, the subsequent dereference passes attacker data to a virtual dispatch or function pointer.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious .fla or related Animate project file through email, chat, or a web download. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable Animate build, the parser triggers the Use After Free and hands control to the attacker's payload. No elevated privileges are required prior to exploitation.
No public proof-of-concept exploit is available at this time, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-47415
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by Animate.exe such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or wscript.exe
- Adobe Animate crashes with access violation exceptions after opening files from untrusted sources
- Newly created executable files or scheduled tasks written shortly after an Animate document is opened
- Outbound network connections from Animate.exe to unrecognized hosts
Detection Strategies
- Alert on process lineage where Animate.exe spawns interpreters, shells, or LOLBins
- Monitor for image loads of non-Adobe DLLs from user-writable paths into the Animate process
- Inspect email and web gateways for .fla, .xfl, and related Animate artifacts sourced from external senders
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable command-line and process-creation logging on endpoints that run Adobe Animate
- Track file-open telemetry for Animate to identify documents originating from removable media or download folders
- Correlate Animate crash events in the Windows Application log with subsequent process or network anomalies
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-47415
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Adobe Animate 2023 to version 23.0.8 or later and Animate 2024 to version 24.0.5 or later as described in APSB24-76
- Block delivery of Animate project files from untrusted external senders at email and web gateways
- Instruct users to only open Animate files received from verified sources
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed builds in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-76. Apply the vendor updates through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or an enterprise deployment tool. Confirm the installed version in Animate under Help → About after patching.
Workarounds
- Restrict Animate to non-privileged user accounts to limit the impact of code execution
- Use application control policies to prevent Animate.exe from launching child processes such as powershell.exe or cmd.exe
- Quarantine or sandbox untrusted .fla and .xfl files before allowing them on production endpoints
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
