CVE-2021-40756 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

This CVE-2021-40756 article provides insights into a Null pointer dereference vulnerability affecting Adobe After Effects version 18.4.1.

Understanding CVE-2021-40756

This section delves into the details of the CVE-2021-40756 vulnerability.

What is CVE-2021-40756?

Adobe After Effects version 18.4.1 (and earlier) is impacted by a Null pointer dereference vulnerability that occurs when processing a maliciously crafted file. An attacker without authentication could utilize this flaw to induce an application denial-of-service within the bounds of the current user's context. Exploiting this loophole necessitates user interaction where a victim unwittingly opens a booby-trapped file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-40756

The impact of CVE-2021-40756 is categorized based on CVSS v3.1 metrics:

Base Score: 5.5 (Medium)
Severity: Medium
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
User Interaction: Required
Confidentiality Impact: None
Integrity Impact: None
Availability Impact: High
Scope: Unchanged

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40756

This section provides a technical breakdown of CVE-2021-40756.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability stems from a Null pointer dereference (CWE-476) in Adobe After Effects, leading to a potential application denial-of-service that requires user interaction.

Affected Systems and Versions

Product: After Effects
Vendor: Adobe
Affected Versions:
Version 18.4.1 and earlier
Version Type: Custom
Status: Affected

Exploitation Mechanism

The exploitation of CVE-2021-40756 necessitates:

Victim to interact with a malicious file
No authentication required
Capable of causing an application denial-of-service

Mitigation and Prevention

In this section, we discuss mitigation strategies for CVE-2021-40756.

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe After Effects to the latest version.
Avoid opening files from untrusted or unknown sources.
Exercise caution while interacting with external files.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement security awareness programs within organizations.
Regularly update software to mitigate known vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released a security advisory for CVE-2021-40756. Ensure to apply the latest patches provided by Adobe to address this vulnerability.