CVE-2021-21074 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe Animate versions 21.0.3 and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly handles memory boundaries while processing certain inputs, allowing an attacker to read memory locations outside the intended buffer. Exploitation requires that a victim user opens a specially crafted malicious file, which triggers the out-of-bounds read condition. Because the vulnerability allows reading memory beyond allocated buffers, it can lead to disclosure of sensitive information present in the memory space of the Adobe Animate process running under the current user's context. The vulnerability does not require authentication, but user interaction is mandatory, as the victim must open the malicious file. There are no known exploits in the wild reported for this vulnerability, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided data. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed in March 2021 and is classified as medium severity by the vendor. The nature of the vulnerability limits its impact to information disclosure rather than code execution or system compromise, but sensitive data leakage could still be significant depending on the environment and data handled by Adobe Animate.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2021-21074 is the potential leakage of sensitive information from the memory of systems running vulnerable versions of Adobe Animate. This could include intellectual property, project files, or other confidential data processed by the application. Organizations in creative industries, digital media, advertising, and education that rely on Adobe Animate for animation and multimedia content creation are particularly at risk. The requirement for user interaction (opening a malicious file) means that successful exploitation depends on social engineering or phishing tactics, which remain common attack vectors. While the vulnerability does not allow direct system compromise or remote code execution, information disclosure could facilitate further targeted attacks or espionage. Given the medium severity and lack of known active exploitation, the immediate risk is moderate but should not be underestimated, especially in environments where sensitive animation or multimedia projects are handled. Additionally, organizations with less mature security awareness training may be more vulnerable to the social engineering aspect required for exploitation.

To mitigate the risk posed by CVE-2021-21074, European organizations should take several specific steps beyond generic advice: 1) Ensure all instances of Adobe Animate are updated to the latest available version, as vendors typically release patches for such vulnerabilities even if not explicitly linked here. 2) Implement strict file handling policies, including restricting the opening of Animate files from untrusted or unknown sources. 3) Enhance user awareness training focused on recognizing and avoiding phishing or social engineering attempts that could deliver malicious Animate files. 4) Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous file behaviors or memory access patterns associated with out-of-bounds reads. 5) Use application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potentially malicious files opened within Adobe Animate. 6) Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual activity related to Adobe Animate processes, especially unexpected file access or crashes that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7) Where feasible, isolate systems used for handling sensitive multimedia content from general-purpose networks to reduce exposure. These targeted measures will reduce the likelihood of successful exploitation and limit potential damage.