CVE-2024-49551 Overview
CVE-2024-49551 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Adobe Media Encoder versions 25.0, 24.6.3, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious media file. Adobe published the fix in security advisory APSB24-93.
The vulnerability affects Media Encoder on both Windows and macOS platforms. Exploitation requires user interaction, limiting mass exploitation but enabling targeted attacks through phishing and social engineering. The weakness is classified under [CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write].
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation yields arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running Adobe Media Encoder, enabling malware installation, data theft, and lateral movement.
Affected Products
- Adobe Media Encoder 25.0 and earlier
- Adobe Media Encoder 24.6.3 and earlier
- Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-49551 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2024-12-10 - Adobe releases security advisory APSB24-93 with patched builds
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in the NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-49551
Vulnerability Analysis
Adobe Media Encoder processes a wide range of audio and video container formats during transcoding and encoding operations. CVE-2024-49551 originates in a media parser that writes data past the bounds of an allocated buffer while processing attacker-controlled file structures. The result is memory corruption adjacent to the target buffer.
An attacker crafts a malformed media file containing manipulated header fields, chunk sizes, or metadata records. When the file is opened, Media Encoder's parsing routine miscalculates the destination buffer size and writes attacker-supplied bytes into adjacent memory. Overwriting function pointers, virtual method tables, or return addresses lets the attacker redirect execution to shellcode staged elsewhere in the process.
Execution runs with the privileges of the current user. On workstations where content creators operate with administrative rights, the attacker gains full control of the host. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-93 for vendor technical context.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient bounds validation in a media file parser. The affected code path trusts length or offset fields inside the file without verifying them against the actual size of the destination buffer, producing a classic out-of-bounds write [CWE-787].
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious media file through email, chat, cloud storage, or a compromised website. When the victim opens the file in Media Encoder or drags it into an active project, the vulnerable parser executes and triggers memory corruption.
Exploitation does not require prior authentication on the target system. No verified proof-of-concept or exploit code is publicly available at this time.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49551
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by Adobe Media Encoder.exe or AME.app, especially cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters
- Media Encoder process crashes or exception events referencing access violations during file open operations
- Media files delivered from untrusted sources with unusual extensions or oversized metadata chunks
- Outbound network connections from the Media Encoder process to non-Adobe infrastructure
Detection Strategies
- Alert on process lineage where Media Encoder launches scripting hosts, LOLBins, or unsigned binaries
- Monitor for module loads of non-Adobe DLLs from user-writable directories into the Media Encoder process
- Correlate file-open telemetry with subsequent process creation and network activity within a short time window
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest endpoint process, file, and network telemetry into a centralized analytics platform for cross-event correlation
- Track installed Media Encoder versions across the fleet and flag hosts still running 25.0 or 24.6.3 and earlier
- Review email and web gateway logs for delivery of media file types associated with Media Encoder workflows
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49551
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe Media Encoder to the patched release identified in advisory APSB24-93 on all Windows and macOS endpoints
- Restrict opening media files that originate from untrusted email, chat, or web sources until patching is complete
- Enforce standard-user privileges for content creators to limit the blast radius of successful exploitation
Patch Information
Adobe published fixed builds alongside advisory APSB24-93. Administrators should deploy the updated Media Encoder version through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling such as the Adobe Admin Console and validate the installed version on each endpoint after rollout.
Workarounds
- Block inbound delivery of Media Encoder project and intermediate media file types at the email gateway when business workflows permit
- Isolate media processing workstations on a segmented network to contain post-exploitation activity
- Enable operating system exploit mitigations such as Data Execution Prevention and Control Flow Guard on Windows hosts running Media Encoder
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
