CVE-2021-40772 : Vulnerability Insights and Analysis

Adobe Prelude version 10.1 (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. This vulnerability requires user interaction to exploit.

Understanding CVE-2021-40772

Adobe Prelude M4A File Parsing Memory Corruption Arbitrary Code Execution

What is CVE-2021-40772?

CVE-2021-40772 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Prelude version 10.1 and earlier. The vulnerability arises from the insecure handling of malicious M4A files, allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the current user's privileges.

The Impact of CVE-2021-40772

The impact is rated as high with a CVSS base score of 7.8. The vulnerability necessitates local access and user interaction to be exploited, potentially leading to unauthorized code execution with severe confidentiality, integrity, and availability consequences.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40772

Adobe Prelude M4A File Parsing Memory Corruption Arbitrary Code Execution

Vulnerability Description

CVE ID: CVE-2021-40772
CVE Assigner: Adobe
CWE ID: CWE-788
The vulnerability allows for the execution of arbitrary code through an insecure parsing mechanism of M4A files in Adobe Prelude version 10.1 and earlier.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Vendor: Adobe
Affected Product: Prelude
Vulnerable Versions: <= 10.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially malicious M4A file and entice a victim to open the file in Adobe Prelude, triggering the memory corruption flaw and enabling code execution.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take:

Users should refrain from opening M4A files from untrusted sources.
Apply vendor-provided patches or updates promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices:

Employ proper file validation techniques to detect malicious content.
Educate users on identifying and avoiding social engineering tactics.

Patching and Updates:

Adobe has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Users are advised to update to the latest version of Adobe Prelude to mitigate the risk of exploitation.