Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
This CVE affects Adobe After Effects when parsing TIF files. A malicious file could cause the application to reveal sensitive memory information. The main business risk is not direct takeover by itself, but helping an attacker bypass defenses such as ASLR during a broader attack.
Executive priority
Treat as a moderate desktop application risk. Prioritize remediation for creative teams handling external media, because the vulnerability needs user interaction but can weaken memory-protection defenses during a larger attack.
Technical view
CVE-2021-28587 is a CWE-125 out-of-bounds read in Adobe After Effects 18.0 and earlier TIF parsing. CVSS 3.0 is 4.3: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges, user interaction required, low confidentiality impact, no integrity or availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is mainly on endpoints where Adobe After Effects 18.0 or earlier is installed and users open externally supplied TIF or project media. The provided sources do not identify server-side products or cloud services as affected.
Exploitation context
The provided bundle does not show active exploitation, and KEV is false. Exploitation requires a victim to open a malicious file. Sources describe the outcome as sensitive memory disclosure that may help bypass mitigations such as ASLR.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports an out-of-bounds read information disclosure in TIF parsing. The bundle does not provide exploit details, fixed version text, or proof of active exploitation. Avoid assuming code execution; assess this as an information leak that may support exploit chains.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Adobe After Effects installations and identify versions 18.0 or earlier.
- Review Adobe APSB21-33 and apply the vendor-recommended security update or guidance.
- Limit opening TIF files and media assets from untrusted sources.
- Use email, web, and endpoint controls to flag suspicious creative-file attachments.
- Prioritize systems used by staff who receive third-party media assets.
Validation and detection
- Confirm affected endpoints are not running After Effects 18.0 or earlier.
- Verify Adobe APSB21-33 remediation status against installed application versions.
- Check whether users handle externally supplied TIF files in After Effects workflows.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious After Effects file-open events where available.
- Document any compensating controls if immediate updating is not possible.
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
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CWE-125: Exact CWE lookup
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Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-28587 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
- Medium
- CVSS
- 4.3 (3.0)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
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:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N2.81.4Primary CVE scoreVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.0 score
4.3MediumVector: CVSS:3.0/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/after_effects/apsb21-33.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 Read
Out-of-bounds Read represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.