Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A malicious WAV audio file can corrupt memory in Adobe Prelude 10.1 and earlier. If a user opens the file, an attacker could run code with that user's permissions. This is a workstation-focused risk tied to media-handling workflows, not a remote network service exposure.
Executive priority
Treat as a high-priority endpoint remediation item for media teams. Business urgency is higher where staff routinely receive audio files from outside parties or where compromised user workstations could access sensitive content.
Technical view
CVE-2021-40771 is a CWE-788 memory corruption issue in Adobe Prelude WAV parsing. CVSS 3.0 is 7.8, with local attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, and required user interaction. Successful exploitation may affect confidentiality, integrity, and availability as the current user.
Likely exposure
Organizations are exposed where Adobe Prelude 10.1 or earlier is installed, especially on systems that open externally supplied audio or project media. Exposure is likely limited to endpoints used for media production or review rather than servers.
Exploitation context
The source bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or any cited evidence of active exploitation. Exploitation requires persuading a user to open a specially crafted WAV file in the affected application.
Researcher notes
Evidence supports arbitrary code execution through malicious file parsing with required user interaction. The provided sources do not include exploit-in-the-wild evidence, weaponized samples, or detailed fixed-version data beyond the Adobe advisory reference.
Mitigation direction
- Identify endpoints running Adobe Prelude 10.1 or earlier.
- Review Adobe APSB21-96 and apply the vendor-recommended update or remediation.
- Restrict users from opening untrusted WAV files in Prelude.
- Limit Prelude use on systems handling sensitive data.
- Remove Prelude where it is no longer required.
Validation and detection
- Confirm installed Adobe Prelude versions across managed endpoints.
- Verify remediation status against Adobe APSB21-96 guidance.
- Check whether media teams receive WAV files from external sources.
- Review endpoint alerts for Prelude crashes after opening media files.
- Confirm users handling external media have current security awareness guidance.
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-2021-40771 mapping review
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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/prelude/apsb21-96.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.