Adobe After Effects improper neutralization of special elements could lead to remote code execution
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- No fix listed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · NVD. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-78.
Summary
Adobe After Effects version 18.1 (and earlier) is affected by a potential Command injection vulnerability when chained with a development and debugging tool for JavaScript scripts. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Adobe | After Effects | up to 18.1; up to None | — | No fix listed | CNA |
- After Effects VendorAdobe Affected up to 18.1; up to None Fixed in — No fix listed CNA
Remediation
No fixed version listed by the sources yet.
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2021-28571
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-2x5j-ww8h-cc92
- 2026-10-09 EPSS moved to the 90th–95th percentile
References
More Adobe After Effects vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-03280 Out-of-bounds write in Adobe After Effects CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2021-09680 Adobe After Effects heap corruption vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2021-09678 Adobe After Effects heap corruption vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2021-09676 Adobe After Effects Stack Overflow vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution CVSS 3.0HIGH 7.8
- TI-2020-07725 Out-of-bounds write in Adobe After Effects CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2020-07724 Out-of-bounds write in Adobe After Effects CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
Sources
- CVE-2021-28571 · CVE Program
- CVE-2021-28571 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-2x5j-ww8h-cc92 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
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