CVE-2026-48350: Adobe Animate Path Traversal Vulnerability

CVE-2026-48350 Overview

CVE-2026-48350 is a path traversal vulnerability [CWE-22] in Adobe Animate that allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Adobe published the issue in security advisory APSB26-83. Exploitation requires user interaction: the victim must open a malicious file crafted by the attacker. Because the vulnerability changes scope, successful exploitation can affect resources beyond the vulnerable component. Adobe Animate installations on Microsoft Windows and Apple macOS are affected.

Critical Impact
An attacker who convinces a user to open a malicious Animate project file can access files outside the intended directory and execute arbitrary code with the victim's privileges.

Affected Products

Adobe Animate (see Adobe advisory APSB26-83 for exact versions)
Apple macOS installations of Adobe Animate
Microsoft Windows installations of Adobe Animate

Discovery Timeline

2026-07-14 - CVE-2026-48350 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2026-07-16 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2026-48350

Vulnerability Analysis

CVE-2026-48350 is classified as an Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory issue [CWE-22]. Adobe Animate fails to properly validate file path components when processing a crafted project or asset file. An attacker constructs a file that references paths outside the intended working directory using traversal sequences. When Adobe Animate parses the file, the application resolves those paths and reads or writes locations chosen by the attacker.

The result is arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Because the CVSS scope is marked as changed, the impact can extend to resources managed by a different security authority than the vulnerable component. The attack requires local access and user interaction, which limits mass exploitation but aligns with common social engineering delivery methods for design and animation content.

The EPSS score for this issue is 0.193%, placing it in the 9.229 percentile of published CVEs at the time of scoring.

Root Cause

The root cause is insufficient sanitization of pathname components inside file-parsing routines. Adobe Animate accepts filename or path fields from an input file and passes them to file operations without canonicalizing the resolved path or confirming it remains within a permitted base directory. Sequences such as ..\ on Windows or ../ on macOS traverse outside the sandboxed directory, and symbolic references can be leveraged to reach or overwrite sensitive locations.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker distributes a malicious Animate project or asset file through email, a shared drive, a design collaboration platform, or a compromised website. When the victim opens the file in Adobe Animate, the application processes the embedded traversal path. The attacker can drop executable content into an auto-loaded location or overwrite files that Animate or the operating system will subsequently execute, leading to code execution as the current user.

No public proof-of-concept exploit is listed in the enriched data, and the vulnerability is not on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.

Detection Methods for CVE-2026-48350

Indicators of Compromise

Adobe Animate project files (.fla, .xfl) or associated asset files containing ..\ or ../ sequences in embedded path fields.
Unexpected file writes by the Animate.exe process on Windows or the Adobe Animate binary on macOS outside the user's project directory.
Newly created executables, scripts, or shortcuts in user startup or auto-run locations following an Adobe Animate session.

Detection Strategies

Inspect inbound Animate project archives at the mail and file-sharing gateway for traversal sequences in packaged file entries.
Correlate Adobe Animate process activity with file writes outside its expected working set using endpoint telemetry.
Alert on child processes spawned by Adobe Animate, since normal use rarely results in shell or interpreter invocations.

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable file integrity monitoring on user profile auto-start paths (%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup, ~/Library/LaunchAgents).
Capture process, file, and module-load events from workstations running Adobe Animate and retain them for retrospective hunting.
Track Adobe Animate version inventory to confirm all endpoints receive the fixed build referenced in APSB26-83.

How to Mitigate CVE-2026-48350

Immediate Actions Required

Apply the Adobe Animate update described in Adobe Security Advisory APSB26-83 on every Windows and macOS endpoint.
Instruct designers and animators to avoid opening Animate files from untrusted or unexpected sources until the patch is deployed.
Review recent Animate file transfers from external senders and quarantine any suspicious project files pending analysis.

Patch Information

Adobe has published fixes in security bulletin APSB26-83. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB26-83 for the exact fixed versions and download locations. Deploy the update through your standard Adobe Creative Cloud management or software distribution workflow.

Workarounds

Restrict Adobe Animate to opening files from vetted network shares or project repositories that scan uploads for path traversal sequences.
Run Adobe Animate under standard user accounts without administrative rights to constrain the impact of successful code execution.
Apply application control policies that block Adobe Animate from launching interpreters and shell binaries such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or /bin/sh.

bash

# Example PowerShell inventory check for Adobe Animate installations
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product |
  Where-Object { $_.Name -like 'Adobe Animate*' } |
  Select-Object Name, Version, InstallDate