Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious PNG opened in Adobe Premiere Elements could corrupt memory and let code run as the signed-in user. Exploitation requires user interaction, but successful abuse could affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability on creative workstations.
Executive priority
Treat as high priority for creative or media-handling teams. The flaw needs a user to open a malicious file, but impact could be full code execution under that user account.
Technical view
CVE-2021-39824 is a CWE-788 memory corruption issue in Adobe Premiere Elements 2021.2235820 and earlier. The flaw is triggered by insecure handling of a malicious PNG file and may allow arbitrary code execution in the current user context.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely on endpoints with Adobe Premiere Elements 2021.2235820 or earlier, especially systems where users import or open PNG files from external, client, shared, or internet sources.
Exploitation context
The source bundle states local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction. CISA KEV status is false in the bundle, and no provided source confirms active exploitation.
Researcher notes
Evidence is sufficient for affected version threshold, vulnerability class, attack vector, and user interaction. The provided bundle does not include exploit availability, active exploitation evidence, or detailed remediation instructions beyond the Adobe advisory reference.
Mitigation direction
- Inventory endpoints running Adobe Premiere Elements.
- Compare installed versions against Adobe APSB21-78 guidance.
- Apply Adobe-provided updates or mitigations where applicable.
- Limit opening untrusted PNG/media files on affected systems.
- Run creative tools without unnecessary administrator privileges.
Validation and detection
- Confirm whether Premiere Elements is installed on managed endpoints.
- Record exact installed version numbers for affected systems.
- Verify remediation status against Adobe APSB21-78.
- Review endpoint controls for untrusted file handling.
- Check user groups that routinely receive external media 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
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CWE-788: Exact CWE lookup
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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-2021-39824 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/premiere_elements/apsb21-78.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.
Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer
Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.