CVE-2025-27202: Adobe Animate Information Disclosure Flaw

CVE-2025-27202 Overview

Adobe Animate contains an out-of-bounds read vulnerability affecting versions 24.0.7, 23.0.10, and earlier. The flaw allows disclosure of sensitive memory contents when a victim opens a crafted file. Attackers can leverage the leaked memory to bypass exploit mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR).

The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-125] Out-of-Bounds Read and requires local access combined with user interaction. Adobe addressed the issue in security bulletin APSB25-31.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation discloses process memory that attackers can use to defeat ASLR and chain with additional vulnerabilities for code execution.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 24.0.7 and earlier 24.x versions
Adobe Animate 23.0.10 and earlier 23.x versions
Deployments on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-27202 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2025-04-08 - Adobe publishes security advisory APSB25-31
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-27202

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read in Adobe Animate's file parsing logic. When Animate processes a malformed file, the parser reads memory outside the bounds of an allocated buffer. The returned data contains residual process memory, which may include pointers, heap addresses, or module base addresses.

The disclosure directly undermines ASLR by revealing memory layout information. Attackers typically pair such leaks with memory corruption bugs to achieve reliable code execution. The confidentiality impact is high, while integrity and availability remain unaffected.

Root Cause

The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation when reading structured data from a user-supplied file. The parser trusts length or offset fields embedded in the file without validating them against the allocated buffer size. Reading past the buffer boundary returns adjacent memory to the attacker-controlled logic path.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires a local attacker to deliver a malicious file to the victim. The victim must open the file in a vulnerable Animate installation. No elevated privileges are needed, but user interaction is required. The attack surface typically includes email attachments, shared project files, and downloaded assets from untrusted sources.

The vulnerability mechanism involves parsing attacker-controlled data without validating offsets against buffer bounds. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-31 for vendor-provided technical context.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27202

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Animate processes (Animate.exe on Windows, Adobe Animate on macOS) opening files from untrusted paths such as Downloads, email staging directories, or temporary folders
Unexpected crashes or exception logs generated by Animate when opening third-party project files
Animate child processes spawning scripting hosts, command shells, or network utilities shortly after file open

Detection Strategies

Monitor endpoint telemetry for Animate opening file types sourced from external or unverified origins
Alert on Animate process memory access violations recorded in Windows Event Logs or macOS crash reports
Correlate file-open events with subsequent anomalous child process creation or outbound network connections

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable application crash telemetry collection on endpoints with Adobe Animate installed
Track installed Animate versions across the fleet and flag hosts running 24.0.7, 23.0.10, or earlier
Review file provenance for Animate project files (.fla, .xfl) received from external sources

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27202

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe Animate to the versions listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-31
Inventory all endpoints running Animate and prioritize patching for creative workstations handling external project files
Instruct users to avoid opening Animate files received from untrusted senders or unknown sources

Patch Information

Adobe released fixed versions in security bulletin APSB25-31 on April 8, 2025. Apply updates through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or by downloading installers directly from Adobe. Verify installed versions after patching to confirm remediation.

Workarounds

Restrict Animate usage to trusted file sources until patching completes
Apply application allowlisting to limit which file paths Animate can open
Enforce least-privilege user accounts on workstations running Animate to limit post-exploitation impact

bash

# Verify installed Adobe Animate version on Windows via PowerShell
Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Adobe Animate*" } |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion