CVE-2021-43023 is a memory corruption vulnerability identified in Adobe Premiere Rush, specifically version 1.5.16 and earlier. The vulnerability arises from insecure handling of malicious EPS (Encapsulated PostScript) or TIFF (Tagged Image File Format) files. When a user opens or imports a crafted EPS or TIFF file into Adobe Premiere Rush, the application may access memory locations beyond the allocated buffer boundaries (CWE-788: Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer). This out-of-bounds memory access can lead to memory corruption, which attackers could exploit to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening or importing a malicious file, and there are no known public exploits in the wild as of the published date. The vulnerability affects the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system by potentially allowing attackers to run malicious code, which could lead to data theft, system compromise, or disruption of service. However, the attack surface is limited to users of Adobe Premiere Rush who handle EPS or TIFF files, and exploitation is constrained by the need for user action and the absence of privilege escalation beyond the current user context. No official patches or updates were linked in the provided information, indicating that users may need to rely on vendor advisories or updates for remediation.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2021-43023 depends largely on the extent to which Adobe Premiere Rush is used within their workflows, particularly in media production, marketing, or creative departments that handle EPS or TIFF files. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, potentially allowing attackers to access sensitive project files, intellectual property, or user credentials stored on affected systems. This could result in data breaches, disruption of creative workflows, or lateral movement within corporate networks if attackers leverage compromised user accounts. Given that the vulnerability requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces may face increased risk if users handle files from untrusted sources. The absence of known exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits over time. The vulnerability's impact on availability is moderate, as memory corruption could cause application crashes or system instability. Confidentiality and integrity impacts are more significant due to the potential for arbitrary code execution. Overall, European organizations in sectors such as media, advertising, and digital content creation are most at risk, especially those with less mature endpoint security controls or limited user awareness training.

1. Update Adobe Premiere Rush to the latest available version as soon as Adobe releases a patch addressing CVE-2021-43023. Monitor Adobe security advisories regularly. 2. Implement strict file handling policies restricting the import of EPS and TIFF files from untrusted or unknown sources, especially in creative departments. 3. Employ endpoint protection solutions with behavior-based detection to identify and block suspicious activities related to memory corruption or code execution attempts within Adobe Premiere Rush. 4. Conduct targeted user awareness training emphasizing the risks of opening files from untrusted sources, particularly focusing on social engineering tactics that could deliver malicious EPS or TIFF files. 5. Use application whitelisting or sandboxing techniques to limit the execution context of Adobe Premiere Rush, reducing the impact of potential code execution. 6. Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual behaviors following file imports in Adobe Premiere Rush, enabling early detection of exploitation attempts. 7. Where feasible, segregate creative workstations from critical network segments to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 8. Encourage the use of alternative file formats or workflows that minimize reliance on EPS or TIFF files if practical.