CVE-2026-21325: Adobe After Effects RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2026-21325 Overview

CVE-2026-21325 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability affecting Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier. When parsing a specially crafted file, the application reads past the end of an allocated memory structure, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. This vulnerability requires user interaction, meaning a victim must be convinced to open a malicious file for exploitation to succeed.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user, potentially leading to full system compromise, data theft, or further lateral movement within an organization's network.

Affected Products

• Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier
• Apple macOS (all supported versions running affected After Effects)
• Microsoft Windows (all supported versions running affected After Effects)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-02-10 - CVE-2026-21325 published to NVD
• 2026-02-11 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-21325

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified as CWE-125 (Out-of-Bounds Read), a memory corruption flaw that occurs when an application reads data from a memory location outside the boundaries of the intended buffer. In the context of Adobe After Effects, this vulnerability is triggered during the parsing of crafted project files or media assets.

When After Effects processes a maliciously crafted file, insufficient validation of input data allows the application to read beyond the allocated memory structure. While out-of-bounds read vulnerabilities are often associated with information disclosure, this particular instance can be leveraged to achieve code execution in the context of the current user.

The local attack vector indicates that an attacker cannot remotely trigger this vulnerability without user interaction. Instead, social engineering tactics such as phishing emails with malicious attachments or compromised download links would be required to deliver the weaponized file to a target.

Root Cause

The root cause of this vulnerability lies in improper bounds checking within After Effects' file parsing routines. When the application processes certain file structures, it fails to adequately validate the size or offset parameters specified in the file, allowing a read operation to access memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This lack of input validation enables attackers to craft files that manipulate memory access patterns.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for CVE-2026-21325 requires local access and user interaction. An attacker would typically craft a malicious After Effects project file (.aep), template, or supported media format containing specially crafted data structures designed to trigger the out-of-bounds read condition.

The exploitation scenario would involve:

1. Attacker creates a malicious file with carefully constructed data to trigger the memory read overflow
2. The file is delivered to the victim through phishing, watering hole attacks, or compromised file-sharing platforms
3. The victim opens the file in Adobe After Effects
4. The out-of-bounds read is triggered during file parsing, potentially allowing code execution

The vulnerability mechanism involves malformed data structures within the crafted file that cause After Effects to miscalculate buffer boundaries during parsing operations. When the application attempts to read data based on these manipulated values, it accesses memory outside the intended allocation, which can be leveraged to leak memory contents or achieve code execution through memory corruption techniques. For detailed technical information, refer to the Adobe After Effects Security Advisory.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-21325

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected crashes or error messages in Adobe After Effects when opening project files from untrusted sources
• Suspicious After Effects project files (.aep) or template files received via email or downloaded from untrusted locations
• Abnormal memory access patterns or segmentation faults in After Effects processes
• Presence of unusually structured After Effects files with anomalous file sizes or metadata

Detection Strategies

• Monitor for Adobe After Effects crash reports and memory access violations that may indicate exploitation attempts
• Implement email gateway scanning for potentially malicious After Effects file attachments
• Deploy endpoint detection rules to identify suspicious file parsing behavior in creative applications
• Utilize file integrity monitoring to detect unauthorized modification of After Effects project files

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable enhanced logging for Adobe Creative Cloud applications to capture file access events
• Monitor process behavior for After Effects (AfterFX.exe on Windows, After Effects on macOS) for signs of code injection or unusual child process spawning
• Implement network monitoring for data exfiltration attempts following After Effects execution
• Track user-reported incidents involving suspicious After Effects files or unexpected application behavior

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-21325

Immediate Actions Required

• Update Adobe After Effects to the latest patched version as specified in Adobe security bulletin APSB26-15
• Restrict users from opening After Effects files from untrusted or unverified sources
• Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized code
• Educate users about the risks of opening files from unknown senders or untrusted websites

Patch Information

Adobe has released a security update to address this vulnerability. Administrators should apply the patch referenced in the Adobe After Effects Security Advisory (APSB26-15). Organizations using Adobe Creative Cloud can deploy updates through the Admin Console or allow users to update via the Creative Cloud desktop application.

Ensure all instances of After Effects are updated to versions newer than 25.6 to remediate this vulnerability.

Workarounds

• Avoid opening After Effects project files or media from untrusted sources until patches can be applied
• Implement strict email filtering to quarantine or block After Effects file attachments from external senders
• Use virtualized or sandboxed environments for processing files from untrusted sources
• Temporarily restrict After Effects usage to only verified, internally-created project files

# Configuration example - Block After Effects file types at email gateway (example for common email security tools)
# Add these extensions to your email quarantine policy:
# .aep (After Effects Project)
# .aet (After Effects Template)
# .aepx (After Effects XML Project)
# 
# Example: Verify After Effects version on Windows
wmic product where "name like '%%After Effects%%'" get name,version