CVE-2021-28612 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) found in Adobe After Effects version 18.2 and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software parses a specially crafted file, leading to the application reading memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries. Such out-of-bounds reads can result in the disclosure of sensitive memory contents, potentially leaking confidential information held in the process memory space. Additionally, the vulnerability can cause a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the application, disrupting the availability of the software for the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a maliciously crafted After Effects project or file. The attacker does not need to be authenticated on the system but must convince the user to open the file, which could be delivered via email, file sharing, or other social engineering methods. There are no known exploits in the wild reported for this vulnerability, and no official patches or updates are linked in the provided information, although Adobe typically addresses such issues in security updates. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality and availability of the system in the context of the current user running After Effects, but it does not appear to allow for privilege escalation or remote code execution. The scope is limited to the user context and the After Effects application itself.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-28612 primarily concerns creative industries, media production companies, advertising agencies, and any enterprises relying on Adobe After Effects for video and motion graphics production. Disclosure of sensitive memory information could lead to leakage of proprietary project data, intellectual property, or credentials stored in memory, which could have reputational and financial consequences. The denial of service aspect could disrupt workflows, causing delays in production schedules and impacting business continuity. Since exploitation requires user interaction, the risk is mitigated somewhat by user awareness and secure file handling policies. However, targeted spear-phishing campaigns or supply chain attacks could increase the likelihood of exploitation. The vulnerability does not directly threaten critical infrastructure or enterprise-wide systems but can affect individual workstations and users, potentially cascading into broader operational impacts if exploited at scale.

1. Apply the latest Adobe After Effects updates and patches as soon as they become available to address this vulnerability. Monitor Adobe security advisories regularly. 2. Implement strict email and file filtering to block or quarantine suspicious files, especially those purporting to be After Effects projects from untrusted sources. 3. Educate users in creative departments about the risks of opening files from unknown or untrusted origins and encourage verification of file sources before opening. 4. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous application crashes or memory access violations related to After Effects. 5. Use application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential crashes and prevent lateral movement in case of exploitation. 6. Maintain regular backups of critical project files and ensure rapid recovery mechanisms to minimize downtime caused by denial of service. 7. Consider network segmentation to isolate creative workstations from sensitive enterprise systems to contain potential breaches resulting from exploitation.