CVE-2024-52990: Adobe Animate RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-52990 Overview

CVE-2024-52990 is a buffer underwrite vulnerability [CWE-124] in Adobe Animate versions 23.0.8, 24.0.5, and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious file. Adobe published the vulnerability on December 10, 2024, alongside security bulletin APSB24-96.

The vulnerability affects Adobe Animate on both Windows and macOS platforms. Exploitation requires user interaction, limiting mass exploitation potential. However, targeted phishing campaigns delivering weaponized Animate project files could leverage this weakness to gain code execution on developer and design workstations.

Critical Impact
Attackers who convince a user to open a crafted file can execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, potentially compromising design assets, source code, and connected enterprise systems.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 23.0.8 and earlier
Adobe Animate 24.0.5 and earlier
Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of the affected versions

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-52990 published to NVD alongside Adobe advisory APSB24-96
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-52990

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a buffer underwrite condition, classified under [CWE-124]. A buffer underwrite occurs when a program writes to a memory location that precedes the intended start of a buffer. This corrupts adjacent memory structures such as heap metadata, function pointers, or object vtables.

In Adobe Animate, the flaw is triggered during parsing of a malicious file. The parser fails to validate a pointer or index before performing a write operation, allowing data to land in memory regions outside the target buffer. Attackers can shape the overwritten memory to redirect execution flow.

Successful exploitation yields arbitrary code execution under the current user's privileges. On workstations where designers operate with administrative rights, this exposure extends further into the local system and connected network resources.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds checking on write operations against a heap or stack buffer. When the file parser processes attacker-controlled fields, it computes a destination address that falls below the buffer's valid range and proceeds to write attacker-controlled bytes.

Attack Vector

The attack requires local access with user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious Animate project file and delivers it through phishing, malicious downloads, or shared collaboration platforms. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable Animate version, the parser triggers the underwrite and executes attacker-supplied code.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2024-52990. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-96 for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-52990

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by Animate.exe or the macOS Adobe Animate binary, particularly shells, script interpreters, or rundll32.exe
Adobe Animate process crashes or memory access violations logged in Windows Event Log or macOS crash reports
Inbound Animate project files (.fla, .xfl) delivered from external sources through email or file sharing

Detection Strategies

Monitor for anomalous process trees where Adobe Animate spawns non-Adobe child processes
Flag network connections initiated by the Animate process to unknown external hosts following file open events
Correlate file open events for Animate project files with subsequent suspicious process or file activity on the same host

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable endpoint telemetry for process creation, image loads, and memory protection changes on hosts running Adobe Animate
Track version inventory of Adobe Animate installations across the fleet to identify unpatched systems
Review email gateway logs for attachments containing Animate project file extensions from untrusted senders

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-52990

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Animate to the versions listed in Adobe security bulletin APSB24-96 on all Windows and macOS endpoints
Instruct users to avoid opening Animate project files received from untrusted or unverified sources
Restrict local administrator privileges on workstations running Adobe Animate to limit post-exploitation impact

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed versions of Animate addressing CVE-2024-52990. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-96 for exact patched build numbers and download instructions. Apply patches through Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling.

Workarounds

No official vendor workaround exists; upgrading to a patched release is the only supported remediation
Block or quarantine Animate project files (.fla, .xfl) originating from external senders at the email gateway until patching completes
Isolate hosts that cannot be immediately patched from sensitive network segments and shared file repositories

bash

# Verify Adobe Animate version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Animate" /s | findstr /i version

# Verify Adobe Animate version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe Animate 2024/Adobe Animate 2024.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString