CVE-2021-28610 Adobe After Effects heap corruption vulnerability could lead to arbitrary code execution

High 7.8 Published 24 Aug 2021 Updated 23 Apr 2025

An attacker can execute arbitrary code by tricking a user into opening a malicious file in Adobe After Effects.

Exploited in the wild: Not known
Login needed: Not needed
Attackable: Local or same network only
Victim action needed: A user has to click or open something
Fix: None listed

What is CVE-2021-28610?

CVE-2021-28610 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe After Effects, published on 24 Aug 2021. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

Official description

Adobe After Effects version 18.2 (and earlier) is affected by a Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file. An unauthenticated attacker could leverage this vulnerability to achieve 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.

Weakness: CWE-787, CWE-122

Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-28610?

It affects 1 product.

Products include Adobe After Effects.

How do I fix CVE-2021-28610?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-28610 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

Upgrade to the fixed version. Memory-safe languages, compiler hardening and fuzzing prevent most new cases. More about Memory corruption.

Is CVE-2021-28610 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-28610 in the wild and no public exploit code.

All Adobe After Effects vulnerabilities

Sources

Also known as GHSA-rf88-cqw8-w4p4.