CVE-2025-43587 Overview
CVE-2025-43587 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability [CWE-125] affecting Adobe After Effects versions 25.2, 24.6.6, and earlier. The flaw allows disclosure of sensitive process memory when a user opens a malicious file crafted by an attacker. Attackers can leverage the leaked memory to bypass exploit mitigations such as Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), weakening defenses against follow-on code execution attempts. Exploitation requires local user interaction, limiting the attack to social engineering scenarios where a victim is tricked into opening a weaponized project or media file in After Effects.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation discloses sensitive memory contents from the After Effects process, enabling attackers to defeat ASLR and build reliable follow-on exploits.
Affected Products
- Adobe After Effects 25.2 and earlier
- Adobe After Effects 24.6.6 and earlier
- Impacted on Apple macOS and Microsoft Windows platforms
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-43587 published to NVD
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-43587
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read condition classified under [CWE-125]. When After Effects parses a specially crafted file, the application reads memory outside the bounds of an allocated buffer. The out-of-bounds data is subsequently exposed to attacker-influenced code paths, resulting in disclosure of adjacent heap or stack contents.
Memory disclosure flaws in media-processing applications typically arise from missing length checks during container parsing, codec decoding, or metadata extraction. Attackers use the leaked bytes to locate loaded module base addresses, defeating ASLR. Once module layout is known, an adversary can chain this bug with a separate memory-corruption vulnerability to achieve code execution under the user context running After Effects.
The scope is unchanged, and the impact is limited to confidentiality. Integrity and availability are not directly affected. However, information disclosure is frequently the first stage of a multi-bug exploit chain targeting creative professionals and media production environments.
Root Cause
The root cause is improper validation of input offsets or lengths within a file-parsing routine in Adobe After Effects. Insufficient bounds checking allows the parser to read beyond allocated memory when processing attacker-controlled fields in a malicious project or media file. Adobe has not published detailed root-cause analysis beyond the advisory classification.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. A victim must open a malicious file in a vulnerable version of After Effects. Delivery vectors include phishing emails with project files, trojanized assets shared through collaboration platforms, or compromised third-party template marketplaces targeting video editors and motion designers.
No verified proof-of-concept exploit code is publicly available for CVE-2025-43587. See the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-49 for vendor-provided technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-43587
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected After Effects process crashes or abnormal termination when opening third-party project files (.aep, .aet) or imported media assets
- Delivery of After Effects project files from untrusted email senders, shared drives, or template marketplaces
- After Effects spawning unexpected child processes or performing anomalous network connections shortly after opening a file
Detection Strategies
- Inventory endpoints running Adobe After Effects and identify installations at versions 25.2, 24.6.6, or earlier
- Monitor for anomalous child-process creation from AfterFX.exe on Windows or the After Effects binary on macOS
- Correlate file-open events in After Effects with subsequent process crashes or memory-access violations in Windows Event Logs and macOS unified logs
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable endpoint detection and response (EDR) telemetry on workstations used by video production and creative teams
- Alert on After Effects processes exhibiting unusual memory read patterns, crashes, or exception handlers invoked during file parsing
- Log and review inbound project files delivered through email gateways and collaboration tools
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-43587
Immediate Actions Required
- Update Adobe After Effects to the fixed versions listed in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-49
- Audit creative workstations for vulnerable installations of After Effects 25.2, 24.6.6, and earlier
- Instruct users to open project files only from trusted sources and verified collaborators
Patch Information
Adobe released fixed versions of After Effects in security bulletin APSB25-49. Administrators should deploy the vendor-supplied updates through Adobe Creative Cloud or managed software distribution. Refer to the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-49 for exact fixed version numbers and download instructions.
Workarounds
- Restrict opening of untrusted .aep, .aet, and imported media files until patching is complete
- Apply application allowlisting and least-privilege user policies on creative workstations to limit the impact of any follow-on exploitation
- Isolate After Effects workloads from sensitive network segments where feasible to reduce lateral movement risk if a chained exploit succeeds
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
