CVE-2025-27184: Adobe After Effects Information Disclosure

CVE-2025-27184 Overview

CVE-2025-27184 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability affecting Adobe After Effects versions 25.1, 24.6.4, and earlier. The flaw allows disclosure of sensitive process memory when a victim opens a crafted project file. Attackers can leverage the leaked memory to bypass mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), enabling reliable follow-on exploitation. The issue is tracked under [CWE-125: Out-of-Bounds Read] and requires local user interaction to trigger. Adobe addressed the flaw in security bulletin APSB25-23.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation exposes sensitive memory contents from the After Effects process, undermining ASLR and providing a foothold for chained attacks that could lead to code execution.

Affected Products

Adobe After Effects 25.1 and earlier
Adobe After Effects 24.6.4 and earlier
Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of the affected versions

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-27184 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-27184

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2025-27184 is an out-of-bounds read [CWE-125] in the file parsing logic of Adobe After Effects. When the application processes a malformed project or media file, it reads memory beyond the bounds of an allocated buffer. The returned data may contain heap metadata, pointers, or other process memory not intended for exposure.

An attacker cannot directly execute code with this flaw alone. Instead, the disclosed memory contents reveal module base addresses and pointer values that defeat ASLR. This information is typically chained with a separate memory-corruption vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.

Exploitation is confined to local attack vectors and requires the victim to open the crafted file. There is no network-based trigger, and no privilege escalation occurs from the read itself.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or insufficient bounds validation on an index or size value used during parsing of an untrusted file structure. When the parser trusts an attacker-controlled length field, it dereferences memory past the end of the source buffer.

Attack Vector

The attack requires social engineering. A threat actor delivers a weaponized After Effects project, plug-in, or media asset through email, a shared workspace, or a compromised third-party marketplace. When the target opens the file in a vulnerable After Effects build, the parser triggers the out-of-bounds read and leaks memory that can be exfiltrated or paired with additional payloads. No verified public proof-of-concept exploit exists at the time of writing.

Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-23 for vendor technical guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27184

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected After Effects crashes or hangs when opening .aep, .aet, or imported media files from untrusted sources
Presence of After Effects project files delivered via email attachments, external file shares, or unsigned third-party plug-in bundles
Anomalous child processes spawned by AfterFX.exe on Windows or After Effects on macOS shortly after file open

Detection Strategies

Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) rules that flag After Effects processes performing outbound network activity or spawning shells and script interpreters
Enable Windows Event Log and macOS Unified Log collection for application crash events referencing After Effects modules
Correlate file-open telemetry with process memory access violations to surface exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

Inventory all endpoints running Adobe After Effects and confirm installed build numbers against the patched versions
Monitor creative team file-sharing channels for unsigned project files originating outside the organization
Alert on new persistence mechanisms or scheduled tasks created by user accounts that operate After Effects

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27184

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe After Effects to the fixed versions published in Adobe bulletin APSB25-23
Restrict opening of After Effects project files received from untrusted or external sources until patches are applied
Communicate the risk to creative and post-production teams that handle third-party project assets

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed builds documented in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-23. Administrators should update all After Effects installations on Windows and macOS to the versions listed as remediated in that bulletin. Verify installed versions using the Creative Cloud desktop application or by checking the About After Effects dialog.

Workarounds

Block or quarantine After Effects project files at the email gateway when received from external senders
Run After Effects under a standard user account without administrative privileges to limit post-exploitation impact
Disable auto-loading of third-party plug-ins and scripts from untrusted directories until patching is complete

bash

# Verify After Effects version on Windows via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Adobe\After Effects\*" | Select-Object DisplayName, Version

# Verify After Effects version on macOS
defaults read "/Applications/Adobe After Effects 2025/Adobe After Effects 2025.app/Contents/Info.plist" CFBundleShortVersionString