Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-21052 is a high-severity Adobe Animate flaw that could let an attacker run code as the signed-in user if a victim opens a malicious file. The main business risk is compromise of workstations used for animation, design, or content handling.
Executive priority
Treat this as a targeted workstation risk, not an internet-facing emergency. Prioritize teams using Adobe Animate or processing files from clients, contractors, or public submissions.
Technical view
Adobe Animate 21.0.2 and earlier are affected by a CWE-787 out-of-bounds write vulnerability. The CVE describes possible arbitrary code execution in the current user context. Exploitation requires a malicious file to be opened by a victim; no source in the bundle confirms active exploitation.
Likely exposure
Exposure is likely limited to endpoints with Adobe Animate 21.0.2 or earlier installed, especially users who receive or open Animate-related files from external or untrusted sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle states exploitation requires user interaction through opening a malicious file. CISA KEV status is false, and no provided source confirms exploitation in the wild.
Researcher notes
The description says user interaction is required, while the supplied CVSS vector lists UI:N. Prefer the narrative source for operational validation and document this inconsistency during risk review.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Adobe Animate installations and identify versions 21.0.2 or earlier.
- Review Adobe APSB21-11 and apply the vendor-recommended update or remediation.
- Limit opening Animate files from untrusted sources until systems are updated.
- Remove or restrict Animate on systems where it is not business-required.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed Adobe Animate versions across managed endpoints.
- Check patch management records against Adobe APSB21-11.
- Verify users handling external files run updated builds.
- Monitor endpoint alerts for suspicious Adobe Animate process behavior.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-21052 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- High
- CVSS
- 7.8 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H1.85.9Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
7.8HighVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/animate/apsb21-11.htmlCVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.