CVE-2025-27185 Overview
Adobe After Effects contains a NULL pointer dereference vulnerability [CWE-476] that enables an application denial-of-service condition. The flaw affects After Effects versions 25.1, 24.6.4, and earlier on both Windows and macOS. An attacker can trigger an application crash by convincing a user to open a crafted file. Exploitation requires local user interaction, limiting remote attack scenarios. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB25-23. The vulnerability does not allow code execution or data disclosure, but it can disrupt production workflows for creative professionals relying on After Effects.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation crashes Adobe After Effects, producing a denial-of-service that interrupts active projects and may cause unsaved work loss.
Affected Products
- Adobe After Effects 25.1 and earlier
- Adobe After Effects 24.6.4 and earlier
- Windows and macOS installations of the affected versions
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-08 - CVE CVE-2025-27185 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-27185
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is a NULL pointer dereference in Adobe After Effects file parsing logic. When the application processes a malformed project or media file, it reads a pointer value without validating it against NULL before dereferencing. The resulting access violation terminates the process. The flaw requires local access and user interaction, since the victim must open the malicious file manually. Impact is limited to availability; confidentiality and integrity are not affected. Attackers can weaponize this by distributing crafted After Effects project files (.aep) or supported media assets through phishing, shared repositories, or supply-chain channels targeting video production teams.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing pointer validation in file-handling routines, classified as [CWE-476] NULL Pointer Dereference. The parser does not verify that an object or structure pointer is non-NULL before accessing its members. Malformed input triggers the uninitialized or NULL state, leading to an unhandled exception and process termination.
Attack Vector
Exploitation requires the victim to open a crafted file in Adobe After Effects. The attacker delivers the file through email, download links, or shared project assets. No network access or authentication is required by the attacker. Once the file is parsed, the application crashes immediately, achieving denial-of-service on the local workstation. Automated or server-side rendering pipelines using After Effects may also be impacted if they ingest attacker-controlled project files.
No verified public proof-of-concept code is available. Technical details beyond the advisory are not published by the vendor.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27185
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected AfterFX.exe or After Effects process termination events shortly after opening a project or media asset
- Windows Application Error logs or macOS CrashReporter entries referencing After Effects access violations
- Delivery of unsolicited .aep, .aepx, or supported media files from untrusted sources
Detection Strategies
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for repeated After Effects crashes correlated with file-open events
- Inspect email and file-sharing gateways for After Effects project files originating from external senders
- Correlate user-reported application crashes with file provenance to identify targeted delivery
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable crash reporting and forward Windows Error Reporting and macOS crash logs to a centralized SIEM
- Track installed After Effects versions across endpoints to flag hosts still running vulnerable builds
- Alert on After Effects processes spawning from unusual parent processes or opening files from temporary directories
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27185
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Adobe After Effects to the fixed version listed in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-23
- Inventory all workstations and render nodes running After Effects and prioritize patching of production systems
- Instruct users to avoid opening After Effects project files received from unverified sources
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed versions for Windows and macOS in security bulletin APSB25-23. Administrators should deploy the update through Adobe Creative Cloud or the enterprise deployment toolkit. Refer to the Adobe Security Update for After Effects for exact fixed build numbers and installer links.
Workarounds
- Restrict opening of After Effects project files to those originating from trusted internal sources
- Scan inbound .aep and media files with content inspection tools before distribution to creative teams
- Isolate render farm nodes so attacker-controlled files cannot be ingested without review
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
