📄 Description (English)
After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier are affected by a Use After Free 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 a Use After Free vulnerability (CVE-2026-21351) that could enable arbitrary code execution with user-level privileges. The vulnerability requires user interaction through opening a malicious file, making it a moderate-to-high risk for creative professionals and media organizations. A patch is available and should be deployed immediately to prevent potential compromise of creative assets and systems.
📄 Description (Arabic)
🤖 AI Intelligence Analysis Analyzed: Apr 28, 2026 19:54
🇸🇦 Saudi Arabia Impact Assessment
Saudi organizations in media production, broadcasting (Saudi Media Authority), advertising agencies, and government communications departments are at elevated risk. The vulnerability particularly impacts: (1) Media and Entertainment sector — production houses creating content for Saudi TV and streaming platforms; (2) Government Communications — agencies using After Effects for official media; (3) Education — universities with media/film programs; (4) Corporate Communications — large enterprises in banking and energy sectors using After Effects for marketing materials. Compromise could lead to theft of intellectual property, insertion of malicious content into distributed media, and lateral movement within organizational networks.
🏢 Affected Saudi Sectors
Media and Broadcasting
Government Communications
Education
Corporate Communications
Advertising and Marketing
Entertainment Production
🎯 MITRE ATT&CK Techniques
⚖️ Saudi Risk Score (AI)
6.8
/ 10.0
🔧 Remediation Steps (English)
Immediate Actions:
1. Identify all After Effects installations in your organization (versions 25.6 and earlier)
2. Restrict user access to After Effects until patching is complete
3. Disable file sharing and collaboration features temporarily
4. Implement email filtering to block suspicious .aep, .aet, and related project files
Patching Guidance:
1. Update Adobe After Effects to version 25.7 or later immediately
2. Use Adobe Creative Cloud auto-update or manual download from adobe.com
3. Verify patch installation by checking Help > About After Effects
4. Test critical workflows post-patch before full deployment
Compensating Controls (if immediate patching not possible):
1. Disable After Effects file opening from email and untrusted sources
2. Run After Effects in isolated virtual machines for processing untrusted files
3. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code execution
4. Monitor process execution for suspicious After Effects child processes
Detection Rules:
1. Monitor for After Effects process spawning cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or other shells
2. Alert on After Effects accessing unusual registry locations or system files
3. Track file modifications in user temp directories during After Effects execution
4. Monitor network connections initiated by After Effects to non-Adobe domains
🔧 خطوات المعالجة (العربية)
الإجراءات الفورية:
1. تحديد جميع تثبيتات After Effects في المؤسسة (الإصدارات 25.6 والأقدم)
2. تقييد وصول المستخدمين إلى After Effects حتى اكتمال التصحيح
3. تعطيل ميزات مشاركة الملفات والتعاون مؤقتاً
4. تطبيق تصفية البريد الإلكتروني لحجب ملفات المشاريع المريبة
إرشادات التصحيح:
1. تحديث Adobe After Effects إلى الإصدار 25.7 أو أحدث فوراً
2. استخدام التحديث التلقائي لـ Adobe Creative Cloud أو التنزيل اليدوي من adobe.com
3. التحقق من تثبيت التصحيح عبر Help > About After Effects
4. اختبار سير العمل الحرج بعد التصحيح قبل النشر الكامل
الضوابط البديلة (إذا لم يكن التصحيح الفوري ممكناً):
1. تعطيل فتح ملفات After Effects من البريد الإلكتروني والمصادر غير الموثوقة
2. تشغيل After Effects في آلات افتراضية معزولة لمعالجة الملفات غير الموثوقة
3. تطبيق قائمة بيضاء للتطبيقات لمنع تنفيذ الأكواد غير المصرح بها
4. مراقبة تنفيذ العمليات للعمليات الفرعية المريبة لـ After Effects
قواعد الكشف:
1. مراقبة عملية After Effects التي تولد cmd.exe أو powershell.exe أو أوامر أخرى
2. التنبيه على After Effects الذي يصل إلى مواقع تسجيل غير عادية أو ملفات النظام
3. تتبع تعديلات الملفات في دلائل temp للمستخدم أثناء تنفيذ After Effects
4. مراقبة الاتصالات الشبكية التي يبدأها After Effects إلى نطاقات غير Adobe
📋 Regulatory Compliance Mapping
🟢 NCA ECC 2024
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.12.2.1 - Monitoring of system use
🔵 SAMA CSF
ID.RA-1 - Asset management and vulnerability identification
PR.IP-12 - Software development and acquisition security
DE.CM-8 - Vulnerability scans
🟡 ISO 27001:2022
A.12.6.1 - Management of technical vulnerabilities
A.14.2.1 - Secure development policy
A.12.2.1 - Monitoring of system use
📦 Affected Products / CPE 1 entries
adobe:after_effects