CVE-2024-47418 Overview
CVE-2024-47418 is a Use After Free vulnerability [CWE-416] affecting Adobe Animate versions 23.0.7, 24.0.4 and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a crafted malicious file. Adobe published the issue in advisory APSB24-76 on October 9, 2024.
Exploitation requires user interaction, and the attack vector is local. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected workstation. The vulnerability affects Adobe Animate installations on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms.
Critical Impact
An attacker who convinces a user to open a malicious Animate project file can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, leading to full workstation compromise.
Affected Products
- Adobe Animate 23.0.7 and earlier
- Adobe Animate 24.0.4 and earlier
- Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-10-09 - CVE-2024-47418 published to NVD
- 2024-10-09 - Adobe releases security advisory APSB24-76
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-47418
Vulnerability Analysis
CVE-2024-47418 is a Use After Free memory corruption issue in Adobe Animate. The application references a heap object after the memory backing that object has already been freed. When the freed region is reallocated with attacker-controlled data, subsequent use of the dangling pointer causes the program to operate on manipulated memory.
An attacker who controls the reclaimed allocation can influence virtual function pointers, object metadata, or other control data structures. This provides a path to arbitrary code execution within the Animate process. Because Animate runs with the privileges of the interactive user, the attacker inherits that user's permissions on the host.
The issue carries an EPSS probability of 0.406% (33.57 percentile), reflecting a low observed likelihood of exploitation in the near term. However, Use After Free bugs in desktop content-parsing applications have a strong historical track record of weaponization through targeted phishing.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper lifetime management of a heap-allocated object during parsing or rendering of Animate project data. Code paths continue to dereference a pointer after the referenced object has been released. Adobe has not published the specific object type or code path affected in the public advisory.
Attack Vector
Exploitation is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious Animate file, typically delivered by email, chat, or web download. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of Animate, the parser triggers the Use After Free condition and executes attacker-supplied shellcode or ROP payload in the context of the current user.
The vulnerability is described in prose only because no verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-76 for vendor technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-47418
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by Animate.exe (Windows) or Adobe Animate (macOS), particularly command shells, powershell.exe, cmd.exe, or scripting hosts.
- Animate process crashes or exception events immediately preceding the launch of unfamiliar binaries or network connections.
- Newly written executables, DLLs, or scripts in user-writable directories following the opening of an .fla, .xfl, or related Animate project file from an untrusted source.
Detection Strategies
- Hunt for Animate process instances loading unsigned modules or making outbound network connections to non-Adobe destinations.
- Correlate email or browser download events for Animate project files with subsequent process execution chains originating from the Animate parent process.
- Apply behavioral rules that flag memory access violations followed by successful control-flow transfer within known content-parsing applications.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable endpoint telemetry for process creation, image loads, and file writes on all workstations running Adobe Animate.
- Log and alert on Office and creative-suite applications spawning interpreters or LOLBins, including mshta.exe, wscript.exe, and rundll32.exe.
- Track version inventory of Adobe Animate across the fleet to identify hosts still running vulnerable builds.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-47418
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe Animate to the versions specified in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-76 on all Windows and macOS endpoints.
- Inventory all systems running Adobe Animate 23.0.7, 24.0.4, or earlier and prioritize patching for users who handle files from external sources.
- Instruct users to avoid opening Animate project files received from untrusted senders or downloaded from unverified sites.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed builds addressing CVE-2024-47418 as documented in advisory APSB24-76. Administrators should deploy the vendor-supplied updates through Adobe Creative Cloud or standard software distribution tooling. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-76 for exact fixed version numbers and download instructions.
Workarounds
- No official workaround is published by Adobe; upgrading to the fixed release is the supported remediation.
- Restrict file associations so that Animate project extensions do not auto-open from email clients or browsers.
- Apply application allowlisting to prevent Animate from spawning shells or scripting interpreters as a compensating control until patching completes.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
