📄 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-2026-21325) that could allow arbitrary code execution when a user opens a malicious file. 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 vulnerability requires only user interaction, making it a moderate-to-high priority for patching across affected organizations.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 28, 2026 14:11
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
This vulnerability primarily impacts Saudi media production companies, advertising agencies, government media departments (particularly under GCAM), educational institutions with digital media programs, and entertainment production studios. Organizations in the creative sector including those supporting Vision 2030 digital transformation initiatives and content creation for Saudi media platforms (Shahid, MBC, Rotana) are at elevated risk. The vulnerability could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive project files, intellectual property theft, or lateral movement within corporate networks if exploited against creative professionals with elevated system privileges.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Media and Entertainment
Advertising and Marketing
Government (Media and Communications)
Education (Digital Media Programs)
Broadcasting and Streaming Services
Creative Agencies
Film and Video Production
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify all systems running Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier through asset inventory and software audit tools
2. Restrict file opening permissions for After Effects to trusted sources only; disable automatic file opening from email and web browsers
3. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution
4. Educate users about not opening suspicious .aep, .aet, or related project files from untrusted sources
Patching Guidance:
1. Update Adobe After Effects to version 25.7 or later immediately
2. Use Adobe Creative Cloud's automatic update feature or manually download patches from adobe.com
3. Test patches in non-production environments before enterprise deployment
4. Prioritize patching for systems handling sensitive media projects
Compensating Controls (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Disable After Effects file preview functionality in file explorers
2. Implement network segmentation to isolate creative workstations
3. Run After Effects in sandboxed environments or virtual machines
4. Monitor file access patterns for suspicious .aep file operations
Detection Rules:
1. Monitor for After Effects process spawning unexpected child processes (cmd.exe, powershell.exe, rundll32.exe)
2. Alert on file access to After Effects temporary directories with suspicious file extensions
3. Track memory access violations or segmentation faults in After Effects processes
4. Monitor for unusual network connections initiated by After Effects process
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع الأنظمة التي تقوم بتشغيل Adobe After Effects الإصدارات 25.6 والإصدارات الأقدم من خلال أدوات جرد الأصول وتدقيق البرامج
2. تقييد أذونات فتح الملفات لـ After Effects للمصادر الموثوقة فقط؛ تعطيل فتح الملفات التلقائي من البريد الإلكتروني ومتصفحات الويب
3. تنفيذ قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ الكود غير المصرح به
4. تثقيف المستخدمين حول عدم فتح ملفات المشاريع المريبة .aep أو .aet من مصادر غير موثوقة
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تحديث Adobe After Effects إلى الإصدار 25.7 أو أحدث على الفور
2. استخدام ميزة التحديث التلقائي في Adobe Creative Cloud أو تنزيل التصحيحات يدويًا من adobe.com
3. اختبار التصحيحات في بيئات غير الإنتاج قبل نشرها على مستوى المؤسسة
4. إعطاء الأولوية لتصحيح الأنظمة التي تتعامل مع مشاريع وسائط حساسة
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تعطيل وظيفة معاينة ملفات After Effects في مستكشفات الملفات
2. تنفيذ تقسيم الشبكة لعزل محطات العمل الإبداعية
3. تشغيل After Effects في بيئات محمية أو آلات افتراضية
4. مراقبة أنماط الوصول إلى الملفات للعمليات المريبة لملفات .aep
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة عملية After Effects التي تولد عمليات فرعية غير متوقعة (cmd.exe أو powershell.exe أو rundll32.exe)
2. التنبيه على الوصول إلى ملفات في دلائل After Effects المؤقتة بامتدادات ملفات مريبة
3. تتبع انتهاكات الوصول إلى الذاكرة أو أخطاء التقسيم في عمليات After Effects
4. مراقبة الاتصالات الشبكية غير العادية التي تبدأها عملية After Effects
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.5.1.1 - Information security policies and procedures
A.6.1.1 - Screening and background checks
A.8.1.1 - User access management
A.12.2.1 - Change management procedures
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
PR.MA-2 - Address identified security weaknesses
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans and assessments
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.12.2.1 - Change management
A.5.2.1 - Information security responsibilities
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
adobe:after_effects