CVE-2025-27194 Overview
CVE-2025-27194 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability [CWE-787] in Adobe Media Encoder versions 25.1, 24.6.4 and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user when a victim opens a malicious media file. Adobe disclosed the issue in security bulletin APSB25-24 on April 8, 2025. The vulnerability affects Media Encoder installations on both Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS platforms.
Exploitation requires user interaction, which limits remote attacker scenarios but aligns with common phishing and supply chain delivery vectors. No public proof-of-concept exploit is available, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants attackers arbitrary code execution under the privileges of the user running Adobe Media Encoder, enabling malware deployment, credential theft, and lateral movement.
Affected Products
- Adobe Media Encoder version 25.1 and earlier 25.x releases
- Adobe Media Encoder version 24.6.4 and earlier 24.x releases
- Installations on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-27194 published to NVD alongside Adobe advisory APSB25-24
- 2025-05-05 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-27194
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds write [CWE-787] in Adobe Media Encoder's media file parsing logic. When Media Encoder processes a crafted input file, it writes data past the end of an allocated buffer. This corruption of adjacent memory can be steered by an attacker to overwrite function pointers, return addresses, or object metadata used by the application.
Because the write occurs in-process, an attacker who controls the file contents can achieve arbitrary code execution in the security context of the user running Media Encoder. The attack vector is local and requires the victim to open the malicious file, but the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact reflects full compromise of the user session.
Root Cause
The root cause is insufficient bounds checking during the parsing of a media container or stream structure. Media Encoder appears to trust a length, offset, or count field derived from the untrusted file without validating it against the destination buffer size. Adobe has not published detailed technical analysis identifying the specific parser component.
Attack Vector
An attacker crafts a malicious media file and delivers it through phishing email, a compromised website, a shared project asset, or a third-party content repository. The victim opens or imports the file into Adobe Media Encoder, at which point the parsing routine triggers the out-of-bounds write. Code execution proceeds with the victim's user privileges and inherits the user's filesystem and network access.
No verified exploit code is publicly available. The vulnerability mechanism is described in the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-24.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27194
Indicators of Compromise
- Adobe Media Encoder (Adobe Media Encoder.exe on Windows, Adobe Media Encoder on macOS) spawning unexpected child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, wscript.exe, or shell interpreters.
- Media Encoder process performing outbound network connections to untrusted hosts shortly after a file open event.
- Unexpected file writes by Media Encoder to user startup, autorun, or LaunchAgents directories.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process creation events where the parent image is Media Encoder and the child is a scripting or living-off-the-land binary.
- Detect crash telemetry indicating access violations or heap corruption in Media Encoder, which can signal exploitation attempts or failed payloads.
- Alert on Media Encoder loading unsigned modules or DLLs from user-writable directories.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Inventory all endpoints running vulnerable Media Encoder versions (25.1, 24.6.4 and earlier) and prioritize for patch tracking.
- Log file open and import operations in Media Encoder for forensic correlation following suspicious user activity.
- Correlate email gateway and web proxy telemetry for media files delivered to users with creative software roles.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27194
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe Media Encoder to the fixed versions identified in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-24 on all Windows and macOS endpoints.
- Restrict opening of media files received from untrusted email, messaging, or web sources until patching is verified.
- Run Adobe Media Encoder under a standard (non-administrative) user account to limit the blast radius of successful exploitation.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed builds of Media Encoder on April 8, 2025. Administrators should deploy the updated versions through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise deployment tooling. Refer to Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-24 for the exact fixed version numbers and download instructions.
Workarounds
- Block delivery of uncommon or unsolicited media container formats at email and web gateways for users who do not require them.
- Apply application allowlisting to prevent Media Encoder from launching scripting interpreters or unsigned binaries as child processes.
- Train creative and post-production teams to validate the provenance of project files and assets before importing into Media Encoder.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
