CVE-2021-28608 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-122) affecting Adobe After Effects version 18.2 and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software parses a specially crafted file, leading to improper handling of memory buffers on the heap. An attacker can exploit this flaw by convincing a user to open a maliciously crafted After Effects project or file, which triggers the overflow condition. The overflow can corrupt adjacent memory, potentially allowing the attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Since the exploit requires user interaction—specifically, opening a malicious file—there is no direct remote exploitation without user involvement. The vulnerability does not require authentication, meaning any attacker can craft a malicious file and distribute it to potential victims. There are no known public exploits in the wild as of the published date, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided information. The heap-based buffer overflow nature of the vulnerability makes it particularly dangerous because it can lead to arbitrary code execution, which could be leveraged for privilege escalation or persistent compromise if combined with other vulnerabilities or misconfigurations.

For European organizations, the impact of this vulnerability can be significant, especially for those in creative industries, media production, advertising, and any sector relying heavily on Adobe After Effects for video and motion graphics production. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, potentially resulting in data theft, installation of malware, or lateral movement within corporate networks. The compromise of workstations used by creative professionals could disrupt production pipelines, cause intellectual property loss, and damage organizational reputation. Given that Adobe After Effects is widely used across Europe, particularly in countries with strong media and entertainment sectors such as the United Kingdom, Germany, France, and the Netherlands, the risk is non-trivial. However, the requirement for user interaction and the absence of known exploits in the wild somewhat reduce the immediate threat level. Still, targeted spear-phishing campaigns or supply chain attacks distributing malicious project files could exploit this vulnerability, especially in high-value targets.

Organizations should implement several specific mitigation strategies beyond generic patching advice: 1) Restrict the use of Adobe After Effects to trusted users and environments, limiting file sharing and downloads from unverified sources. 2) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to contain the execution of After Effects and limit the impact of potential code execution. 3) Educate users, particularly creative teams, about the risks of opening files from unknown or untrusted sources and implement strict policies for file handling. 4) Monitor network and endpoint behavior for unusual activities that could indicate exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process spawning or memory anomalies related to After Effects. 5) Since no patch is linked, organizations should engage with Adobe support channels to obtain updates or workarounds and consider using intrusion prevention systems (IPS) with signatures targeting heap overflow attempts in After Effects file parsing. 6) Implement robust backup and incident response plans tailored to creative production environments to minimize downtime and data loss in case of compromise.