CVE-2025-47109 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability (CWE-476) affecting Adobe After Effects versions 25.2, 24.6.6, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the application attempts to dereference a null pointer, leading to an application crash and resulting in a denial-of-service (DoS) condition. The flaw can be triggered when a user opens a specially crafted malicious file, which causes the application to access invalid memory. This vulnerability does not allow for code execution or data leakage but disrupts normal operations by crashing the software. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically opening a malicious file, which limits the attack vector to scenarios where an attacker can convince or trick a user into opening such a file. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5, indicating a medium severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access or the ability to deliver a file to the victim. No privileges are required (PR:N), but user interaction (UI:R) is necessary. The impact is limited to availability (A:H), with no confidentiality or integrity impact. There are no known exploits in the wild at the time of publication, and no patches have been linked yet. This vulnerability primarily affects workflows relying on Adobe After Effects for video and motion graphics production, where disruption could impact productivity and service availability.

For European organizations, particularly those in media production, advertising, film, and digital content creation sectors, this vulnerability could cause operational disruptions. A successful exploit would crash Adobe After Effects, halting work and potentially delaying project timelines. While it does not compromise data confidentiality or integrity, the denial-of-service effect could impact service delivery and client commitments. Organizations with distributed teams or remote workers might face increased risk if malicious files are shared via email or collaboration platforms. The requirement for user interaction means social engineering or phishing campaigns could be leveraged to deliver the malicious files. In regulated industries or critical infrastructure sectors using After Effects for visualization or communication, such disruptions could have cascading effects. However, the medium severity and lack of known exploits reduce the immediate threat level. Still, the impact on availability and productivity should not be underestimated, especially in competitive creative industries.

European organizations should implement targeted mitigation strategies beyond generic advice. First, enforce strict file handling policies: restrict the types of files that can be opened in After Effects and educate users to avoid opening files from untrusted or unknown sources. Implement email and collaboration platform filtering to detect and block potentially malicious files. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing to isolate After Effects processes, limiting the impact of crashes. Maintain up-to-date backups of project files to minimize disruption from application crashes. Monitor user activity for abnormal file opening patterns that could indicate exploitation attempts. Since no patches are currently available, organizations should engage with Adobe support channels for early patch notifications and consider temporary workarounds such as disabling file types known to trigger the vulnerability if feasible. Additionally, integrate security awareness training focused on recognizing phishing or social engineering tactics that could deliver malicious files. Finally, consider network segmentation to limit the spread of malicious files within the organization.