CVE-2024-49537: Adobe After Effects RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-49537 Overview

Adobe After Effects contains a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability affecting versions 24.6.2, 25.0.1, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious project file. Exploitation requires user interaction, limiting mass exploitation scenarios but enabling targeted attacks against creative professionals. The vulnerability affects both Windows and macOS installations of After Effects. Adobe assigned this issue under advisory APSB24-95 and released patched versions to address the flaw. The weakness is classified under [CWE-121] Stack-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation results in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running After Effects, enabling malware deployment, credential theft, and lateral movement.

Affected Products

Adobe After Effects 24.6.2 and earlier 24.x releases
Adobe After Effects 25.0.1 and earlier 25.x releases
Installations on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-49537 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-49537

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a stack-based buffer overflow triggered during parsing of a crafted After Effects project or media file. When After Effects processes attacker-controlled input, the application writes beyond the bounds of a fixed-size stack buffer. This overwrites adjacent stack memory, including saved return addresses and local variables. An attacker who controls the overflowed data can redirect execution flow to attacker-supplied instructions or ROP gadgets.

Exploitation runs in the security context of the local user, inheriting that user's file system access, network privileges, and application permissions. On workstations used by video and motion graphics professionals, the compromised context often includes access to sensitive project assets and shared storage.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking on data copied into a stack buffer during file parsing. The condition maps to [CWE-121] Stack-based Buffer Overflow and [CWE-787] Out-of-bounds Write. Adobe's advisory does not disclose the specific parser component, but similar issues in media applications typically originate in codec, container, or project deserialization routines.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. The attacker delivers a malicious After Effects file via email, shared storage, collaboration platforms, or drive-by download. The victim must open the file in a vulnerable After Effects version to trigger the overflow. Network-based exploitation without user action is not possible.

The vulnerability cannot be exploited to elevate privileges beyond the current user account. However, if the user runs After Effects with administrative rights, the attacker inherits those rights.

No public proof-of-concept exploit or exploit code is currently available for this issue.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49537

Indicators of Compromise

After Effects (AfterFX.exe on Windows, After Effects on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, or osascript.
Unexpected outbound network connections from the After Effects process to untrusted destinations.
After Effects project files (.aep, .aepx) or imported media arriving from untrusted sources with abnormal file sizes or malformed headers.
Crash events or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing After Effects modules with access violation exceptions.

Detection Strategies

Monitor process lineage for After Effects spawning shell interpreters, script hosts, or LOLBins that are inconsistent with normal creative workflows.
Alert on file write or execution events where After Effects drops executables, DLLs, or scripts into user-writable directories.
Inspect email and file-sharing gateways for After Effects project files originating from external senders and quarantine for sandbox analysis.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track After Effects version telemetry across endpoints to identify hosts running vulnerable builds at or below 24.6.2 and 25.0.1.
Correlate After Effects crash telemetry with subsequent process, file, and network activity to surface exploitation attempts.
Enable and forward EDR process, file, and network telemetry from creative workstations to a central data lake for retrospective hunting.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49537

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe After Effects to the fixed versions listed in the Adobe After Effects Security Update APSB24-95.
Inventory all endpoints running After Effects and prioritize patching for users who routinely open externally sourced project files.
Instruct users to open After Effects files only from trusted sources and to validate the origin of shared assets before importing.

Patch Information

Adobe released updated After Effects builds addressing this vulnerability under security bulletin APSB24-95. Administrators should deploy the patched builds through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling such as Adobe Admin Console packages. Refer to the Adobe After Effects Security Update for the exact fixed version numbers and download instructions.

Workarounds

Restrict After Effects usage to standard user accounts to limit the impact of code execution in the user's context.
Block or quarantine .aep and .aepx files received from external email senders at the mail gateway until patching is complete.
Apply application allowlisting to prevent After Effects from launching child processes such as command interpreters or script hosts.

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"