CVE-2021-28601 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe After Effects version 18.2 and earlier are impacted by a Null pointer dereference vulnerability. An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this issue by tricking a user into opening a malicious file, leading to an application denial-of-service.

Understanding CVE-2021-28601

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-28601 vulnerability affecting Adobe After Effects.

What is CVE-2021-28601?

CVE-2021-28601 is a Null pointer dereference vulnerability in Adobe After Effects version 18.2 and earlier. It allows an unauthenticated attacker to trigger an application denial-of-service by manipulating a specially crafted file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-28601

The vulnerability's impact is rated as Low severity, with the attacker needing local access to exploit it. While it does not affect confidentiality or integrity, exploitation requires user interaction through the opening of a malicious file.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-28601

In this section, we explore the technical specifics of CVE-2021-28601.

Vulnerability Description

The CVE involves a NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476) issue in Adobe After Effects, where version 18.2 and earlier fail to handle a specially crafted file properly, leading to a denial-of-service condition.

Affected Systems and Versions

Adobe After Effects versions 18.2 and earlier are susceptible to this vulnerability.

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploiting CVE-2021-28601 requires an attacker to create and persuade a user to open a malicious file to trigger the NULL pointer dereference vulnerability.

Mitigation and Prevention

This section highlights the measures to mitigate and prevent CVE-2021-28601.

Immediate Steps to Take

Users are advised to update Adobe After Effects to a patched version to mitigate the vulnerability. Exercise caution while opening files from untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implementing file input validation checks and maintaining regular software updates can help prevent similar vulnerabilities in the future.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security updates to address CVE-2021-28601. It is crucial to apply these patches promptly to safeguard systems against potential attacks.