CVE-2025-27204 Overview
CVE-2025-27204 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Adobe After Effects versions 25.1, 24.6.4 and earlier. The flaw allows disclosure of sensitive memory from the After Effects process. Attackers can use the leaked memory contents to bypass mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR). Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically opening a crafted malicious project file in After Effects. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-125 (Out-of-bounds Read) and affects installations on both Windows and macOS.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation discloses process memory, enabling attackers to defeat ASLR and strengthen follow-on exploitation attempts against the Adobe After Effects process.
Affected Products
- Adobe After Effects 25.1 and earlier
- Adobe After Effects 24.6.4 and earlier
- Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of After Effects
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-27204 published to the National Vulnerability Database
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-27204
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read condition in Adobe After Effects file parsing logic. When After Effects processes a specially crafted project or media file, the application reads memory outside the bounds of an allocated buffer. The out-of-bounds data is then surfaced through application state in a way that an attacker can observe or exfiltrate. Because the leaked bytes may include pointers and loaded module addresses, attackers use them to defeat ASLR and prepare reliable follow-on exploits. The issue is limited to confidentiality impact and does not directly provide code execution or integrity loss.
Root Cause
The root cause is missing or incorrect bounds validation during parsing of attacker-controlled file structures, consistent with CWE-125. The parser trusts a length or offset field in the input and dereferences memory past the end of the source buffer. Adobe has not published low-level technical details beyond the advisory APSB25-23.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker must deliver a malicious After Effects file to the victim through email, a shared project repository, or a download. The victim must then open the file in a vulnerable version of After Effects. There are no authentication requirements, and the attacker needs no prior access to the target system. No public proof-of-concept or in-the-wild exploitation has been reported, and the vulnerability is not listed in the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-27204
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected After Effects project files (.aep, .aepx) arriving via email, chat, or external storage from untrusted sources.
- After Effects process crashes or abnormal termination immediately after opening a specific project or asset file.
- Unexpected outbound network connections from AfterFX.exe shortly after a project file is opened.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor endpoint telemetry for Adobe After Effects process anomalies, including crashes, memory faults, and child-process creation following file open events.
- Inspect email and file-sharing gateways for After Effects project files from external senders and quarantine for sandbox analysis.
- Correlate file-open events with subsequent process behavior to identify suspicious handling of untrusted project assets.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Alert on execution of outdated After Effects builds at or below versions 25.1 and 24.6.4 across managed endpoints.
- Track inventory of installed Adobe Creative Cloud application versions to confirm patch coverage.
- Log file access to shared project directories for forensic review if a suspicious file is reported.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-27204
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Adobe security update referenced in APSB25-23 to all After Effects installations.
- Inventory endpoints running Adobe After Effects and prioritize creative workstations handling externally sourced project files.
- Instruct users to open After Effects project files only from trusted sources until patching is complete.
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed versions of After Effects addressing CVE-2025-27204 in security bulletin APSB25-23. Users on After Effects 25.1 and earlier, or 24.6.4 and earlier, should update through the Creative Cloud desktop application to the latest available release.
Workarounds
- Block or quarantine inbound After Effects project files from untrusted senders at email and file-sharing gateways.
- Restrict execution of After Effects to users with a documented business need and enforce least privilege on workstations.
- Use application allowlisting and endpoint protection policies to flag unexpected child processes or network activity from AfterFX.exe.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
