CVE-2025-21135: Adobe Animate RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-21135 Overview

CVE-2025-21135 is an integer underflow vulnerability [CWE-191] affecting Adobe Animate versions 24.0.6, 23.0.9, and earlier releases. The flaw can result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires the victim to open a malicious file crafted by an attacker. Adobe published the issue in security advisory APSB25-05 on January 14, 2025.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user running Adobe Animate, enabling installation of programs, data theft, or creation of new accounts.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 24.0.6 and earlier (2024 release)
Adobe Animate 23.0.9 and earlier (2023 release)
Windows and macOS installations of Adobe Animate

Discovery Timeline

2025-01-14 - CVE-2025-21135 published to NVD
2025-01-14 - Adobe releases security advisory APSB25-05
2025-02-12 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-21135

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as [CWE-191] Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound). An integer underflow occurs when an arithmetic operation produces a value lower than the minimum representable value for the integer type, causing the value to wrap around to a large positive number. In Adobe Animate, this condition arises during parsing of crafted file content. The wrapped value is then used in subsequent memory operations, including buffer size calculations or index arithmetic, leading to out-of-bounds memory access and ultimately arbitrary code execution.

Exploitation runs code in the security context of the logged-on user. Accounts configured with fewer privileges on the system are less impacted than accounts that operate with administrative rights.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper validation of arithmetic operations on signed or unsigned integer values during file processing. When Adobe Animate processes specific fields in a malicious project or asset file, a subtraction or decrement operation produces a value below zero. The wrapped result bypasses size checks and is passed to memory allocation or copy routines, corrupting adjacent memory structures.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker must deliver a malicious Animate file to the victim through phishing, drive-by download, or shared storage. The victim must open the file in a vulnerable version of Adobe Animate. Once opened, the integer underflow is triggered during file parsing, and attacker-controlled data executes within the Animate process.

The vulnerability cannot be exploited remotely without user interaction, and there is no automatic network-based exploitation path. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-05 for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-21135

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Animate process (Animate.exe on Windows, Adobe Animate on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or shell interpreters
Unexpected crashes or access violations in Adobe Animate when opening third-party files, indicating possible failed exploitation attempts
Animate-associated file types (.fla, .xfl, .swf) arriving from untrusted email senders or external file shares

Detection Strategies

Monitor process creation events where Adobe Animate is the parent process and the child is a scripting host, command shell, or LOLBin
Inspect endpoint telemetry for memory corruption indicators within the Animate process, including unexpected module loads and write-then-execute memory regions
Apply YARA or content rules to detect suspiciously crafted Animate project files in email and file-share traffic

Monitoring Recommendations

Track installed Adobe Animate versions across endpoints and alert on instances still running 24.0.6, 23.0.9, or earlier
Log and review file open events for Animate documents originating from untrusted locations such as Downloads or temporary mail folders
Correlate Animate process crashes with subsequent persistence or lateral movement indicators on the same host

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-21135

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe Animate 2024 to version 24.0.7 or later and Adobe Animate 2023 to version 23.0.10 or later as documented in APSB25-05
Restrict opening of Animate files received from untrusted sources until patches are deployed across the environment
Run Adobe Animate under standard user accounts rather than administrative accounts to limit the impact of successful exploitation

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds on January 14, 2025. Customers should install the latest available updates through the Creative Cloud desktop application or by downloading them directly from Adobe. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-05 for the complete list of fixed versions and download links.

Workarounds

No vendor-supplied workaround exists; patching is the only supported remediation
Block inbound delivery of Animate file types (.fla, .xfl) at email gateways for users who do not require them
Enforce application allowlisting to prevent unauthorized child processes from spawning under Animate.exe

bash

# Verify installed Adobe Animate version on Windows
reg query "HKLM\SOFTWARE\Adobe\Animate" /s /v Version

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