CVE-2024-53956 Overview
Adobe Premiere Pro contains a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability that allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The flaw affects Premiere Pro versions 25.0, 24.6.3, and earlier releases across Windows and macOS. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically opening a malicious project or media file crafted by an attacker. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB24-104. The vulnerability is tracked under [CWE-122] (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and [CWE-787] (Out-of-Bounds Write). No public proof-of-concept, exploit code, or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported, and the CVE is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation gives attackers arbitrary code execution under the current user's privileges, enabling malware installation, data theft, or lateral movement from creative workstations.
Affected Products
- Adobe Premiere Pro 25.0
- Adobe Premiere Pro 24.6.3 and earlier
- Windows and macOS installations of the affected Premiere Pro builds
Discovery Timeline
- 2024-12-10 - CVE-2024-53956 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2024-53956
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a heap-based buffer overflow inside Adobe Premiere Pro's media or project file parsing logic. When Premiere Pro loads a crafted file, the application writes data beyond the boundary of a heap-allocated buffer. This out-of-bounds write can corrupt adjacent heap metadata, function pointers, or object structures used during media processing.
An attacker who controls the overflow contents can steer program flow toward attacker-supplied instructions. Because Premiere Pro runs with the interactive user's privileges, code execution inherits that user's access to documents, credentials, cloud sessions, and network shares. Media production environments frequently share project assets, which raises the likelihood that a booby-trapped file traverses trusted channels.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper validation of size or length values during parsing of untrusted file content, categorized under [CWE-122] and [CWE-787]. The parser allocates a heap buffer based on one field while copying data governed by a separate, attacker-controlled field. Without a bounds check reconciling the two, the copy exceeds the allocation and overwrites adjacent heap memory.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious Premiere Pro project or supported media file through email, shared storage, collaboration platforms, or a compromised website. Opening the file inside a vulnerable Premiere Pro build triggers the overflow. No network exposure, elevated privileges, or authentication is needed on the target host beyond the user launching the file.
Detailed technical indicators for the parsing routine have not been released. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-104 for vendor-supplied context.
Detection Methods for CVE-2024-53956
Indicators of Compromise
- Premiere Pro (Adobe Premiere Pro.exe on Windows, Adobe Premiere Pro on macOS) crashing shortly after opening a project or media file, especially with heap corruption exceptions.
- Unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, bash, or osascript spawned from Premiere Pro.
- Outbound network connections initiated by Premiere Pro to non-Adobe infrastructure following file open events.
Detection Strategies
- Alert on process-tree anomalies where Premiere Pro spawns shells, scripting engines, or living-off-the-land binaries.
- Hunt for suspicious media or project file extensions (.prproj, .mogrt, .mxf, .mov) delivered from external senders and opened by users in creative roles.
- Correlate Premiere Pro crash telemetry with subsequent file writes to persistence locations such as Startup folders or LaunchAgents.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Ingest endpoint process, file, and network telemetry from creative workstations into a centralized detection pipeline for behavioral analytics.
- Track Premiere Pro version inventory across the fleet and flag hosts still running 24.6.3 or earlier and 25.0.
- Monitor shared project storage and asset management systems for newly uploaded files from untrusted external collaborators.
How to Mitigate CVE-2024-53956
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe Premiere Pro to the versions listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-104 on all Windows and macOS endpoints.
- Inventory hosts running Premiere Pro 25.0 or 24.6.3 and earlier and prioritize them for patching.
- Instruct editors and post-production staff to avoid opening Premiere Pro files received from unverified sources until patches are applied.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed builds of Premiere Pro documented in bulletin APSB24-104. Apply the vendor-supplied updates through the Creative Cloud desktop application or the enterprise Adobe Admin Console. Full remediation details are available in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-104.
Workarounds
- Restrict Premiere Pro use to files originating from trusted internal storage and vetted collaborators until patching completes.
- Apply application allowlisting and disable macros or automation entry points that could open Premiere Pro files without user review.
- Run creative workstations as standard users rather than local administrators to limit the impact of code executed in the user context.
# Configuration example
# Windows: query installed Premiere Pro version for patch tracking
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Premiere Pro" /s | findstr /i "Version"
# macOS: read the CFBundleShortVersionString from the installed app bundle
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe Premiere Pro 2024/Adobe Premiere Pro 2024.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
