CVE-2021-28571 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe After Effects version 18.1 (and earlier) is impacted by a Command injection vulnerability. An attacker could exploit this to achieve arbitrary code execution. User interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2021-28571

This CVE relates to a potential Command injection vulnerability in Adobe After Effects that could allow remote code execution when coupled with a specific development and debugging tool.

What is CVE-2021-28571?

Adobe After Effects version 18.1 (and prior versions) are susceptible to a Command injection flaw. Attackers, through a malicious file, could execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28571

The vulnerability poses a high risk, with critical impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. An unauthenticated attacker can exploit it to run malicious code in the user's context.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28571

This section delves into the vulnerability's description, affected systems, versions, and the exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises from improper neutralization of special elements in OS Commands, allowing attackers to inject and execute arbitrary code.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe After Effects versions <= 18.1 are confirmed to be impacted by this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting this issue requires an unauthenticated attacker to convince a user to open a specially crafted malicious file.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section covers immediate actions and long-term security practices to prevent exploitation.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update their Adobe After Effects to a secure version and avoid opening files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Maintain vigilance while handling file attachments and implement security awareness training to recognize phishing attempts.

Patching and Updates

Regularly install security patches and updates for Adobe After Effects to mitigate the risk of exploitation.