CVE-2021-42269 Adobe Animate FLA File Parsing Use After Free Remote Code Execution
Attackers can execute arbitrary code by tricking users into opening a malicious FLA file in Adobe Animate.
- 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-2021-42269?
CVE-2021-42269 is a high-severity use after free vulnerability in Adobe Animate, published on 18 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 Animate version 21.0.9 (and earlier) are affected by a use-after-free vulnerability in the processing of a malformed FLA file 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.
Weakness: CWE-416
Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-42269?
It affects 1 product.
Products include Adobe Animate.
How do I fix CVE-2021-42269?
No fix has been published for CVE-2021-42269 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.
Upgrade to the fixed version. These bugs are found with fuzzing and sanitisers and avoided by memory-safe languages. More about Use after free.
Is CVE-2021-42269 being exploited?
There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-42269 in the wild and no public exploit code.
Other vulnerabilities in Adobe Animate
- CVE-2016-7866 Memory corruption in Adobe Animate 15.2.1.95 and earlier
- CVE-2026-48350 Animate | Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') (CWE-22)
- CVE-2026-76191 Animate | Improper Control of Generation of Code ('Code Injection') (CWE-94)
- CVE-2026-48345 Animate | Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection') (CWE-78)
- CVE-2026-48349 Animate | Incorrect Authorization (CWE-863)
Sources
Also known as GHSA-7frp-922c-3gc5.