CVE-2021-40754 is a memory corruption vulnerability identified in Adobe After Effects versions 18.4.1 and earlier. The root cause is an access of memory location after the end of a buffer (CWE-788), which occurs due to insecure handling of specially crafted WAV audio files. When a user opens a maliciously crafted WAV file within After Effects, the application may read or write memory beyond the allocated buffer boundaries. This can lead to memory corruption, potentially allowing an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim must open or import the malicious file into After Effects. There are no known exploits in the wild reported for this vulnerability, and no official patches or updates have been linked in the provided information. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed in November 2021 and is recognized by Adobe and CISA. Given the nature of the flaw, it primarily threatens the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system by enabling code execution, which could lead to data compromise or system manipulation if exploited successfully.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-40754 can be significant, especially for those in creative industries, media production, advertising, and any sectors relying heavily on Adobe After Effects for video and multimedia content creation. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive project files, intellectual property theft, or lateral movement within corporate networks. While the vulnerability requires user interaction, targeted spear-phishing campaigns or malicious file distribution through compromised supply chains could increase risk. Additionally, compromised systems could be used as footholds for further attacks, including ransomware or espionage. The impact is heightened in environments where After Effects is used on workstations with elevated privileges or where network segmentation is weak. Given the medium severity rating and absence of known exploits, the immediate risk is moderate but should not be underestimated, especially in high-value creative environments.

1. Immediate mitigation should include restricting the opening of untrusted or unsolicited WAV files within Adobe After Effects. Users should be trained to verify the source of audio files before importing them. 2. Implement application whitelisting and sandboxing for Adobe After Effects to limit the potential impact of exploitation. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of memory corruption or code execution attempts. 4. Network segmentation should be enforced to isolate workstations running After Effects from critical infrastructure and sensitive data repositories. 5. Regularly review and update organizational policies on file sharing and multimedia content handling to reduce the risk of malicious file introduction. 6. Monitor Adobe’s official channels for patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and apply them promptly once available. 7. Consider deploying file integrity monitoring on directories where After Effects project files and assets are stored to detect unauthorized modifications. 8. For organizations with custom security controls, implement heuristic scanning for malformed WAV files at the gateway or endpoint level to block potentially malicious files before they reach users.