📄 Description (English)
After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability when parsing a crafted file, which could result in a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute code 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 read vulnerability (CVE-2026-21322) that could allow arbitrary code execution when users open malicious files. With a CVSS score of 7.8, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to creative professionals and media production teams in Saudi Arabia. While no public exploit is currently available, the requirement for user interaction makes social engineering attacks a viable threat vector.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 28, 2026 14:12
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi media and entertainment production companies, advertising agencies, and government media departments that rely on After Effects for content creation. The Saudi Vision 2030 digital transformation initiatives and growing media production sector make this a notable concern. Additionally, educational institutions offering media production programs and freelance content creators using After Effects are at risk. The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive project files, intellectual property theft, or system compromise affecting downstream production workflows.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Media and Entertainment
Advertising and Marketing
Government Media Departments
Education (Media Production Programs)
Freelance Content Creators
Broadcasting
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
1. IMMEDIATE ACTIONS:
- Disable After Effects file opening from untrusted sources until patching is complete
- Educate users about not opening suspicious .aep, .aet, or related project files from unknown senders
- Implement email gateway controls to block After Effects project files from external sources
2. PATCHING GUIDANCE:
- Update Adobe After Effects to version 25.7 or later immediately
- Use Adobe Creative Cloud auto-update feature or manually download patches from adobe.com
- Verify patch installation by checking Help > About After Effects for version confirmation
3. COMPENSATING CONTROLS (if immediate patching not possible):
- Restrict After Effects execution using application whitelisting (AppLocker/SELinux)
- Run After Effects in sandboxed environments or virtual machines for untrusted files
- Implement file integrity monitoring on project directories
- Use network segmentation to isolate workstations running After Effects
4. DETECTION RULES:
- Monitor for After Effects process crashes or unexpected terminations
- Alert on After Effects accessing memory regions outside normal bounds
- Track file access patterns for suspicious .aep file modifications
- Monitor for process spawning from After Effects (code execution indicator)
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
1. الإجراءات الفورية:
- تعطيل فتح ملفات After Effects من مصادر غير موثوقة حتى اكتمال التصحيح
- تثقيف المستخدمين حول عدم فتح ملفات المشروع المريبة من مرسلين مجهولين
- تطبيق عناصر تحكم بوابة البريد الإلكتروني لحظر ملفات مشاريع After Effects من مصادر خارجية
2. إرشادات التصحيح:
- تحديث Adobe After Effects إلى الإصدار 25.7 أو أحدث فوراً
- استخدام ميزة التحديث التلقائي لـ Adobe Creative Cloud أو تنزيل التصحيحات يدويًا من adobe.com
- التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح بالتحقق من Help > About After Effects لتأكيد الإصدار
3. الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
- تقييد تنفيذ After Effects باستخدام القائمة البيضاء للتطبيقات (AppLocker/SELinux)
- تشغيل After Effects في بيئات معزولة أو آلات افتراضية للملفات غير الموثوقة
- تطبيق مراقبة سلامة الملفات على دلائل المشروع
- استخدام تقسيم الشبكة لعزل محطات العمل التي تقوم بتشغيل After Effects
4. قواعد الكشف:
- مراقبة أعطال عملية After Effects أو الإنهاء غير المتوقع
- تنبيه عند وصول After Effects إلى مناطق الذاكرة خارج الحدود العادية
- تتبع أنماط الوصول إلى الملفات لتعديلات ملفات .aep المريبة
- مراقبة توليد العمليات من After Effects (مؤشر تنفيذ الكود)
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
ECC 2024 A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
ECC 2024 A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
ECC 2024 A.12.2.1 - Monitoring of system use
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset management and vulnerability identification
PR.IP-12 - Software, firmware, and information integrity mechanisms
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans are performed
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy and procedures
A.12.2.1 - Monitoring system use
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
adobe:after_effects