# CVE-2021-40772: Adobe Prelude M4A File Parsing Memory Corruption Arbitrary Code Execution

> Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a malicious M4A file in Adobe Prelude.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H`)
- **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 available:** No
- **Published:** 22 Nov 2021
- **Updated:** 23 Apr 2025
- **Also known as:** GHSA-43f7-xpq7-4gc9

## What is CVE-2021-40772?

CVE-2021-40772 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Prelude, published on 22 Nov 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 Prelude version 10.1 (and earlier) is affected by a memory corruption vulnerability due to insecure handling of a malicious M4A file, potentially resulting in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required in that the victim must open a specially crafted file to exploit this vulnerability.

Weakness: CWE-119 (Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer), CWE-788 (Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-40772?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Adobe Prelude.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-40772?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-40772 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-40772 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-40772 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Prelude

- [CVE-2020-9677](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9677/): Memory corruption in Adobe Prelude (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-9678](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9678/): Memory corruption in Adobe Prelude (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-9680](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-9680/): Memory corruption in Adobe Prelude (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2021-43754](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43754/): Adobe Prelude Corruption could lead to Arbitrary code execution (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2021-40770](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40770/): Adobe Prelude M4A File Parsing Memory Corruption Arbitrary Code Execution (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-40772 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-40772 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability in Adobe Prelude, published on 22 Nov 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.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-40772 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Adobe Prelude. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40772/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40772/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-40772
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-40772
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-40772

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-40772/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.