CVE-2021-40796 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe Premiere Pro 15.4.1 (and earlier) is affected by a Null pointer dereference vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file, which could lead to an application denial-of-service. Learn about the impact, technical details, and mitigation steps for this CVE.

Understanding CVE-2021-40796

Adobe Premiere Pro is prone to a Null pointer dereference vulnerability, potentially resulting in an application denial-of-service.

What is CVE-2021-40796?

Adobe Premiere Pro 15.4.1 (and earlier) is susceptible to a Null pointer dereference flaw when handling malicious files.
An unauthenticated attacker could exploit this vulnerability to trigger an application denial-of-service in the user's context.
User interaction is required for the exploitation, as it necessitates opening a malicious file.

The Impact of CVE-2021-40796

CVSS Score: 5.5 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Availability Impact: High
CWE ID: CWE-476 (NULL Pointer Dereference)
The vulnerability poses a risk of an application denial-of-service, affecting the integrity of the system.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40796

Adobe Premiere Pro's vulnerability requires understanding its description, affected systems, and exploitation mechanism.

Vulnerability Description

The flaw involves a Null pointer dereference vulnerability in Adobe Premiere Pro.

Affected Systems and Versions

Products Affected: Adobe Premiere
Vendor: Adobe
Vulnerable Versions: <= 15.4.1

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker through a specially crafted file.
Exploitation leads to an application denial-of-service in the current user's context.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-40796, follow the immediate and long-term security practices along with patching and updates.

Immediate Steps to Take

Avoid opening files from untrusted sources.
Apply security updates provided by Adobe promptly.

Long-Term Security Practices

Employ robust endpoint security solutions.
Conduct regular security training to enhance user awareness.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released security updates to address this vulnerability.