Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2021-28604 is a high-severity Adobe After Effects flaw. Opening a maliciously crafted file could let an attacker run code as the current user. The key business risk is compromise of creative workstations that handle untrusted project or media files.
Executive priority
Treat as a prioritized workstation remediation item, especially for creative teams. It is not listed as known exploited in the provided data, but the impact is full code execution after user interaction.
Technical view
Adobe After Effects 18.2 and earlier are affected by a heap-based buffer overflow when parsing a specially crafted file. CVSS 3.0 is 7.8, with local attack vector, no privileges required, user interaction required, and high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on endpoints running Adobe After Effects 18.2 or earlier, especially users who receive external project files, templates, plugins, or media packages. The source bundle does not provide CPEs or a full platform list.
Exploitation context
The sources require victim interaction: a user must open a malicious file. The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or other evidence of active exploitation, so active exploitation should not be assumed.
Researcher notes
The record identifies CWE-122 heap-based buffer overflow during file parsing. Validation should focus on version exposure and file-handling workflows, not exploit reproduction. The source bundle does not name fixed versions or detailed indicators.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory Adobe After Effects installations and identify versions 18.2 or earlier.
- Review Adobe APSB21-49 and apply the vendor-recommended update or remediation.
- Limit opening After Effects files from untrusted or external sources.
- Use endpoint controls to reduce impact from malicious creative files.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed After Effects versions across managed endpoints.
- Check whether exposed systems are at or below version 18.2.
- Verify remediation status against Adobe APSB21-49 guidance.
- Review security telemetry for suspicious activity after opening unsolicited After Effects files.
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-122: 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-2021-28604 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:N/UI:R/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:N/UI:R/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:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/after_effects/apsb21-49.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.
Heap-based Buffer Overflow
Heap-based Buffer Overflow represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.