CVE-2025-49562: Adobe Animate Use After Free Vulnerability

CVE-2025-49562 Overview

CVE-2025-49562 is a Use After Free vulnerability [CWE-416] in Adobe Animate that can lead to disclosure of sensitive memory. The flaw affects Adobe Animate versions 23.0.12, 24.0.9, and earlier releases on both Windows and macOS. Exploitation requires user interaction: a victim must open a malicious file crafted by an attacker. Successful exploitation exposes memory contents that can include sensitive process data or address information useful for bypassing security mitigations. Adobe published details in security bulletin APSB25-73.

Critical Impact
An attacker who convinces a user to open a crafted Animate project file can read sensitive memory from the Animate process, potentially aiding follow-on attacks.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate 23.0.12 and earlier 23.x releases
Adobe Animate 24.0.9 and earlier 24.x releases
Adobe Animate on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS

Discovery Timeline

2025-08-12 - CVE-2025-49562 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-49562

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is a Use After Free condition in the Adobe Animate file parser. Animate frees a memory object during file processing but retains a dangling reference that is later dereferenced. When the reference is accessed after the free, the process reads memory that may have been reallocated or that still contains residual data. The attacker cannot execute arbitrary code through this flaw. Instead, the primary consequence is disclosure of sensitive memory contents from within the Animate process. Exploitation is local and requires the victim to open a malicious project file.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifecycle management of a heap-allocated object during file parsing. The code path releases the object without clearing all pointers that reference it. A subsequent read operation dereferences the freed pointer, returning attacker-influenced or leftover heap contents. This class of defect is tracked as CWE-416, Use After Free.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious Animate file with structures that trigger the vulnerable code path during parsing. The attacker then delivers the file through phishing, a shared workspace, or a malicious download. When the victim opens the file in a vulnerable version of Animate, the process reads freed memory. The disclosed memory may include heap metadata, pointers useful for bypassing Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), or fragments of other document contents. No verified public proof-of-concept is available.

See the Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-73 for vendor technical details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-49562

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected Adobe Animate process crashes or abnormal terminations while opening third-party .fla, .xfl, or related project files
Animate opening files from unusual locations such as email attachment directories, temporary download folders, or removable media
Endpoint telemetry showing Animate spawning child processes or performing outbound network activity shortly after opening a project file

Detection Strategies

Inventory installed Adobe Animate versions across managed endpoints and flag hosts running 23.0.12, 24.0.9, or earlier
Correlate file-open events for Animate with process crash and Windows Error Reporting or macOS crash dump events
Alert on Animate project files delivered by email or downloaded from untrusted domains, especially those bypassing sanctioned collaboration platforms

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable process and file telemetry on workstations that run creative tooling, including Animate host processes
Monitor for anomalous memory access patterns and repeated Animate crashes on the same endpoint
Track patch compliance for the Adobe Creative Cloud stack and generate exceptions for unpatched installations

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-49562

Immediate Actions Required

Update Adobe Animate to the fixed versions identified in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-73
Restrict opening of Animate project files received from untrusted or unverified sources
Reinforce user awareness around opening unsolicited design assets, particularly from email or messaging platforms

Patch Information

Adobe addressed the vulnerability in the updates listed in Adobe Security Bulletin APSB25-73. Administrators should deploy the latest Animate release through the Adobe Creative Cloud desktop application or their managed software distribution channel. Verify the installed build number after deployment to confirm remediation.

Workarounds

If patching is delayed, block or quarantine inbound Animate project files at the email gateway and web proxy
Isolate systems running vulnerable Animate versions from sensitive data repositories until patched
Apply application allowlisting to prevent Animate from executing on hosts where it is not required

bash

# Query 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, InstallDate