CVE-2021-28615 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe After Effects version 18.2 and earlier. This vulnerability occurs when the software parses a specially crafted file, allowing an attacker to read memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries. The flaw enables an unauthenticated attacker to potentially disclose sensitive information from the memory space of the current user running the application. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a maliciously crafted After Effects project or file. The vulnerability does not allow direct code execution or privilege escalation but can leak sensitive data such as memory contents which may include credentials, tokens, or other confidential information. No known public exploits or active exploitation in the wild have been reported to date. Adobe has not provided specific patch links in the provided data, but the issue was publicly disclosed in August 2021. The vulnerability is classified as medium severity, reflecting the limited impact scope and the requirement for user interaction. The attack vector is local to the user environment, relying on social engineering or tricking users into opening malicious files. The vulnerability affects all users of vulnerable After Effects versions, which are widely used in media production, advertising, and creative industries globally, including Europe.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2021-28615 is the potential disclosure of sensitive information from the memory of users running vulnerable versions of Adobe After Effects. This could lead to leakage of intellectual property, project details, or authentication tokens stored in memory, which may facilitate further attacks such as credential theft or lateral movement within networks. Organizations in creative sectors, media production houses, advertising agencies, and any enterprises relying on Adobe After Effects for content creation are at risk. While the vulnerability does not directly compromise system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach could have reputational and operational consequences. The requirement for user interaction reduces the likelihood of widespread automated exploitation but does not eliminate risk from targeted spear-phishing or social engineering campaigns. Given the prevalence of Adobe After Effects in European creative industries, the vulnerability could be leveraged to gain footholds or gather intelligence in corporate environments. However, the absence of known exploits and the medium severity rating suggest the threat is moderate but should not be ignored.

1. Immediate upgrade to the latest version of Adobe After Effects beyond 18.2 where this vulnerability is addressed is the most effective mitigation. 2. Implement strict file handling policies restricting the opening of After Effects project files from untrusted or unknown sources to reduce the risk of malicious file execution. 3. Educate users, especially creative teams, on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious files and encourage verification of file origins. 4. Employ endpoint security solutions capable of detecting anomalous file parsing or memory access patterns related to Adobe applications. 5. Use application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of any malicious file execution. 6. Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual activity following file openings, which could indicate exploitation attempts. 7. Regularly review and update incident response plans to include scenarios involving memory disclosure vulnerabilities in creative software. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, file trust policies, and targeted monitoring relevant to the specific context of Adobe After Effects usage.