📄 Description (English)
After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
🤖 AI Executive Summary
Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier contain an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CVE-2026-21318) that could enable arbitrary code execution with user privileges. The vulnerability requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a significant risk for creative professionals and media organizations. A patch is available and should be deployed immediately to prevent potential compromise of workstations and creative assets.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 28, 2026 14:11
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi media production companies, government media entities (SPAGOV), advertising agencies, and educational institutions using After Effects face direct risk. The vulnerability could compromise creative assets, intellectual property, and potentially introduce malware into organizational networks. Government agencies producing official media content and private sector creative studios are particularly vulnerable. The requirement for user interaction makes social engineering attacks targeting creative professionals a viable attack vector.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Media and Broadcasting
Government (Media Production)
Advertising and Creative Agencies
Education and Training
Entertainment and Film Production
Corporate Communications
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
1. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
- Disable After Effects or restrict file opening from untrusted sources until patching is complete
- Alert all users not to open suspicious .aep, .aepx, or related project files from unknown sources
- Implement email filtering to block After Effects project files from external senders
2. PATCHING GUIDANCE:
- Update Adobe After Effects to version 25.7 or later immediately
- Use Adobe Creative Cloud auto-update feature or manual download from adobe.com
- Verify patch installation by checking Help > About After Effects
3. COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching delayed):
- Restrict After Effects execution via application whitelisting (AppLocker/SELinux)
- Disable macros and plugins from untrusted sources
- Run After Effects in sandboxed environments for processing untrusted files
- Implement file integrity monitoring on project directories
4. DETECTION RULES:
- Monitor for unexpected child processes spawned by AfterFX.exe
- Alert on After Effects accessing unusual system directories or registry keys
- Track failed file operations indicating out-of-bounds memory access attempts
- Monitor network connections initiated by After Effects to non-Adobe domains
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
1. الإجراءات الفورية:
- تعطيل After Effects أو تقييد فتح الملفات من مصادر غير موثوقة حتى اكتمال التصحيح
- تنبيه جميع المستخدمين بعدم فتح ملفات .aep أو .aepx المريبة من مصادر غير معروفة
- تطبيق تصفية البريد الإلكتروني لحجب ملفات مشاريع After Effects من المرسلين الخارجيين
2. إرشادات التصحيح:
- تحديث Adobe After Effects إلى الإصدار 25.7 أو أحدث فوراً
- استخدام ميزة التحديث التلقائي لـ Adobe Creative Cloud أو التنزيل اليدوي من adobe.com
- التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح عبر Help > About After Effects
3. الضوابط البديلة (إذا تأخر التصحيح الفوري):
- تقييد تنفيذ After Effects عبر القائمة البيضاء للتطبيقات (AppLocker/SELinux)
- تعطيل وحدات الماكروز والإضافات من مصادر غير موثوقة
- تشغيل After Effects في بيئات معزولة لمعالجة الملفات غير الموثوقة
- تطبيق مراقبة سلامة الملفات على دلائل المشاريع
4. قواعد الكشف:
- مراقبة العمليات الفرعية غير المتوقعة التي يطلقها AfterFX.exe
- التنبيه عند وصول After Effects إلى دلائل النظام أو مفاتيح السجل غير المعتادة
- تتبع عمليات الملفات الفاشلة التي تشير إلى محاولات الوصول إلى الذاكرة خارج الحدود
- مراقبة الاتصالات الشبكية التي يبدأها After Effects إلى نطاقات غير تابعة لـ Adobe
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.8.1.3 - Segregation of duties
A.12.2.1 - Controls against malware
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset management and vulnerability identification
PR.IP-12 - Software development and acquisition security
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans
RS.MI-2 - Incident response and recovery
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.12.2.1 - Malware protection
A.16.1.5 - Response to information security incidents
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
adobe:after_effects