CVE-2021-40751 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe After Effects version 18.4 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability due to insecure handling of a malicious .m4a file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required in that the victim must open a specially crafted file to exploit this vulnerability.

Understanding CVE-2021-40751

Adobe After Effects M4A File Parsing Memory Corruption Arbitrary Code Execution

What is CVE-2021-40751?

CVE-2021-40751 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe After Effects impacting version 18.4 (and prior). This vulnerability stems from the insecure handling of a malicious .m4a file, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code by enticing a user to open a crafted file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-40751

The following are the impacts of this vulnerability:

Base Score: 7.8 (High)
Base Severity: High
Attack Vector: Local
User Interaction: Required
Confidentiality Impact: High
Integrity Impact: High
Availability Impact: High
Complexity: Low
Scope: Unchanged

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40751

Adobe After Effects M4A File Parsing Memory Corruption Arbitrary Code Execution

Vulnerability Description

Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer (CWE-788)

Affected Systems and Versions

The vulnerability affects:

Product: After Effects
Vendor: Adobe
Versions: <= 18.4.1, None (unspecified)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability is exploited through:

Crafting a malicious .m4a file
Tricking a user to open the crafted file

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate attention and precautions are necessary to mitigate the risks posed by CVE-2021-40751.

Immediate Steps to Take

Install the latest security updates from Adobe
Avoid opening files from untrusted sources
Exercise caution while interacting with unknown attachments

Long-Term Security Practices

Educate users about safe file handling practices
Implement file type restrictions and validation checks

Patching and Updates

Regularly update Adobe After Effects to the latest version with security patches