CVE-2024-53953: Adobe Animate RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-53953 Overview

CVE-2024-53953 is a Use After Free vulnerability [CWE-416] affecting Adobe Animate versions 23.0.8, 24.0.5, and earlier. Attackers can leverage this flaw to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that a victim opens a malicious Animate file. The vulnerability affects installations on both Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows systems. Adobe published the fix in security bulletin APSB24-96.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, enabling malware installation, credential theft, or lateral movement from a compromised workstation.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 23.0.8 and earlier
Adobe Animate 24.0.5 and earlier
Adobe Animate installations on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-53953 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-53953

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2024-53953 is a Use After Free memory corruption issue [CWE-416] in Adobe Animate. Use After Free conditions occur when a program continues to access memory after it has been released. An attacker who controls the freed memory region can substitute crafted data that the application later dereferences as a valid object. When Animate parses a malicious project file, this dangling reference is followed, redirecting execution flow.

Because the flaw resides in file parsing, exploitation requires the victim to open an attacker-supplied .fla or related Animate file. The attack vector is local and does not require prior authentication to Animate itself. Successful exploitation yields code execution at the privilege level of the user running Animate, typically a standard desktop account.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper memory lifetime management within Adobe Animate's file processing routines. An object is released while another code path retains a pointer to it. Subsequent operations on that stale pointer allow controlled data to influence program state, ultimately enabling arbitrary code execution.

Attack Vector

The attack requires social engineering. Threat actors typically deliver malicious Animate project files through phishing emails, compromised websites, or trojanized asset packages shared with creative teams. Once the file is opened, the Use After Free triggers without further user interaction.

No public exploit or proof-of-concept code has been published for CVE-2024-53953. The vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-96 for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-53953

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected child processes spawned by Animate.exe on Windows or the Adobe Animate process on macOS, particularly command interpreters such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh.
Adobe Animate crash reports referencing access violations in memory-management routines shortly after opening a project file.
Inbound .fla, .xfl, or related Animate project files arriving through email attachments, external file shares, or web downloads from untrusted sources.

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for process lineage anomalies where Adobe Animate launches scripting hosts, LOLBins, or network utilities.
Alert on Animate processes writing executable files to user-writable directories such as %APPDATA%, %TEMP%, or ~/Library/Application Support.
Correlate email gateway telemetry with endpoint file-open events to identify malicious Animate files delivered via phishing.

Monitoring Recommendations

Track installed Adobe Animate versions across managed endpoints and flag hosts still running 23.0.8, 24.0.5, or earlier releases.
Ingest Adobe application crash logs into the SIEM to identify potential exploitation attempts against creative-user workstations.
Monitor outbound network connections initiated by Adobe Animate processes, since legitimate use rarely requires arbitrary network activity.

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-53953

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the security updates listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-96 to all Animate installations.
Inventory endpoints running Adobe Animate and prioritize patching for users who regularly receive external design files.
Instruct users to open Animate project files only from verified, trusted sources until patching is complete.

Patch Information

Adobe released patched builds addressing CVE-2024-53953 as documented in security bulletin APSB24-96. Administrators should upgrade Animate to versions later than 23.0.8 and 24.0.5 on both Windows and macOS. Deployment can be handled through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling such as the Adobe Admin Console.

Workarounds

Restrict opening of Animate project files originating from external or untrusted sources through user awareness and email gateway controls.
Enforce least-privilege on workstations so that a compromised Animate session cannot escalate to administrative operations.
Use application allowlisting to prevent Animate from launching unauthorized child processes such as scripting interpreters.

bash

# Windows: query installed Adobe Animate version for patch verification
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Adobe Animate*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion

# macOS: check installed Animate version
mdls -name kMDItemVersion "/Applications/Adobe Animate 2024/Adobe Animate 2024.app"