CVE-2021-28616 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting 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 outside the intended buffer boundaries. An attacker can exploit this flaw by convincing a user to open a maliciously crafted After Effects project or media file. Successful exploitation allows the attacker to disclose sensitive memory information, which could potentially include sensitive data such as passwords, cryptographic keys, or other confidential information residing in the process memory. Additionally, the vulnerability can cause a denial of service (DoS) by crashing the application, disrupting the workflow of the user. The attack does not require authentication but does require user interaction, specifically opening the malicious file. There are no known exploits in the wild as of the published date, and Adobe has not provided a patch link in the provided information. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality and availability of the affected system but does not directly affect integrity. The scope is limited to the context of the current user running After Effects, meaning system-wide compromise is unlikely through this vulnerability alone. The vulnerability is classified as medium severity by the source, reflecting the need for user interaction and the limited scope of impact.

For European organizations, especially those involved in media production, advertising, film, and digital content creation, this vulnerability poses a risk to the confidentiality of sensitive project data and intellectual property. Disclosure of memory contents could lead to leakage of proprietary information or credentials stored in memory. The denial of service aspect could disrupt critical workflows, causing productivity losses and potential financial impact. Organizations relying heavily on Adobe After Effects for content creation may experience operational interruptions if exploited. Since exploitation requires user interaction, targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files to employees. The impact is more pronounced in organizations with lax file handling policies or insufficient user training on opening files from untrusted sources. However, the vulnerability does not allow remote code execution or privilege escalation, limiting the potential for broader network compromise. Overall, the threat could affect confidentiality and availability but is unlikely to lead to full system compromise or lateral movement within networks.

Organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Enforce strict file handling policies that restrict opening After Effects project files or media files from untrusted or unknown sources. 2) Educate users, especially content creators and media teams, about the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious files and encourage verification of file origins. 3) Monitor and control the use of Adobe After Effects through application whitelisting and endpoint detection to identify abnormal crashes or suspicious file access patterns. 4) Maintain up-to-date backups of critical project files to minimize disruption from potential denial of service incidents. 5) Since no patch link is provided, organizations should monitor Adobe security advisories for official patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 6) Employ network segmentation to isolate media production environments, reducing the risk of lateral movement if an exploit occurs. 7) Use memory protection mechanisms and endpoint security solutions capable of detecting anomalous memory access patterns to potentially detect exploitation attempts. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, file trust verification, and environment segmentation tailored to the media production context.