CVE-2022-27784 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability (CWE-121) found in Adobe After Effects versions 22.2.1 and earlier, as well as 18.4.5 and earlier. The vulnerability arises from insecure handling of crafted files by the application, which can lead to a stack overflow condition. This overflow can potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the security context of the current user. Exploitation requires that the victim opens a maliciously crafted file in After Effects, meaning user interaction is necessary. The vulnerability affects the core processing of file inputs, where insufficient bounds checking or improper memory management leads to overwriting of the stack memory. While no public exploits have been reported in the wild, the nature of the vulnerability means that a successful attack could compromise the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. Since After Effects is a widely used digital visual effects and motion graphics software, particularly in creative industries, the vulnerability poses a risk to users who handle untrusted or external project files. The lack of a published patch at the time of this report increases the urgency for users to apply mitigations and exercise caution when opening files from untrusted sources.

For European organizations, especially those in media, advertising, film production, and creative agencies that rely heavily on Adobe After Effects, this vulnerability could lead to significant operational disruptions and data breaches. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive project files, intellectual property theft, or deployment of malware within corporate networks. Given that After Effects runs with user-level privileges, the attacker’s capabilities would be limited to the current user's permissions; however, lateral movement or privilege escalation could follow if combined with other vulnerabilities. The requirement for user interaction reduces the risk of widespread automated exploitation but does not eliminate targeted attacks, such as spear-phishing campaigns delivering malicious project files. The vulnerability could also impact organizations involved in critical infrastructure sectors if After Effects is used in their workflows, potentially affecting availability and integrity of digital assets. Additionally, the absence of known exploits in the wild suggests that proactive mitigation is essential to prevent future attacks.

1. Immediate implementation of strict file handling policies: Only open After Effects project files from trusted and verified sources. 2. Employ sandboxing or use virtualized environments when opening files from external or unknown origins to contain potential exploitation. 3. Monitor and restrict user privileges to limit the impact of arbitrary code execution; ensure users operate with least privilege necessary. 4. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect anomalous behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unusual memory access patterns or process injections related to After Effects. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical project files to enable recovery in case of compromise. 6. Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious files and implement security awareness training focused on social engineering tactics. 7. Regularly check for and apply Adobe security updates or patches as they become available, and subscribe to Adobe security advisories for timely information. 8. Network segmentation to isolate systems running After Effects from sensitive parts of the corporate network to limit lateral movement.