CVE-2025-43556 Overview
CVE-2025-43556 is an integer overflow vulnerability [CWE-190] affecting Adobe Animate versions 24.0.8, 23.0.11, and earlier on Windows and macOS. The flaw can lead to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a crafted malicious file in Animate. Adobe published the corresponding advisory APSB25-42 covering this issue.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants attackers arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the logged-in user, enabling malware installation, data theft, and persistence on Windows and macOS workstations.
Affected Products
- Adobe Animate 24.0.8 and earlier
- Adobe Animate 23.0.11 and earlier
- Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS installations of Animate
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-05-13 - CVE-2025-43556 published to NVD
- 2025-05-15 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-43556
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an integer overflow or wraparound condition in Adobe Animate file parsing logic. When Animate processes a crafted project or asset file, arithmetic on size or length fields wraps past the maximum value of the underlying integer type. The wrapped value is then used in subsequent memory allocation or bounds calculations.
The result is an undersized buffer paired with a larger-than-expected copy operation. This produces an out-of-bounds write that corrupts adjacent memory structures. Attackers can shape the corrupted memory to redirect execution flow and run shellcode within the Animate process.
Because Animate runs as the interactive user, code execution inherits the user's privileges. Attackers can then drop payloads, harvest credentials from the user profile, or pivot to other systems.
Root Cause
The defect originates from missing or incorrect validation of size-related fields before arithmetic operations. Untrusted values from the malicious file are multiplied or added, exceeding the bounds of a fixed-width integer. Animate then trusts the wrapped result when allocating buffers or iterating structures.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious Animate file through email, instant messaging, web download, or a shared drive. When the user opens the file in a vulnerable build of Animate, the parser triggers the integer overflow and executes attacker-controlled code. No elevated privileges are required to initiate the attack.
The vulnerability is described in prose only; see the Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-42 for vendor details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43556
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected Animate child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or bash spawned from Animate.exe or Adobe Animate.app.
- Animate crashes followed by writes to user-writable autorun locations or scheduled task creation.
- Inbound Animate project files (.fla, .xfl, related assets) arriving via email or download from untrusted sources.
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process lineage for Animate spawning shells, scripting interpreters, or LOLBins (living-off-the-land binaries).
- Alert on Animate processes performing network connections to non-Adobe destinations.
- Inspect file telemetry for Animate projects opened from temporary mail attachment or browser download directories.
Monitoring Recommendations
- Collect endpoint process, file, and network telemetry from systems with Adobe Animate installed.
- Correlate Animate crash events in Windows Event Log or macOS unified logs with subsequent suspicious process activity.
- Track outbound traffic from creative workstations to detect post-exploitation command-and-control beacons.
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43556
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe Animate to the fixed versions listed in Adobe Security Advisory APSB25-42.
- Inventory all Windows and macOS endpoints running Animate 24.0.8, 23.0.11, or earlier and prioritize patching.
- Instruct users not to open Animate project files received from untrusted or unexpected sources.
Patch Information
Adobe addressed CVE-2025-43556 in the updates referenced by advisory APSB25-42. Administrators should deploy the latest Animate release through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or enterprise package management. Confirm the installed build is newer than 24.0.8 and 23.0.11 on every affected host.
Workarounds
- Restrict opening of Animate files to those from verified internal sources until patching completes.
- Apply application allowlisting to block Animate from launching shells and scripting hosts as child processes.
- Run Animate under standard user accounts only, never under administrative accounts, to limit post-exploitation impact.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
