CVE-2025-49561 is a high-severity Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability affecting Adobe Animate versions 23.0.12, 24.0.9, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly manages memory, specifically freeing memory that is still in use, which can lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user. The exploitation requires user interaction, as an attacker must convince a victim to open a specially crafted malicious Animate file. Once triggered, the vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to full compromise of the affected user's privileges, including the ability to install programs, view, change, or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker needs local access or user interaction, with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). No patches or known exploits in the wild are currently reported, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be addressed promptly to prevent exploitation.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially for industries relying on Adobe Animate for multimedia content creation, such as advertising, media production, education, and digital marketing sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution on workstations, potentially allowing attackers to move laterally within networks, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt operations. Given the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, organizations could face data breaches, intellectual property theft, or operational downtime. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files, increasing the risk in environments where users frequently exchange or open Animate files. Additionally, compromised endpoints could serve as footholds for further attacks against critical infrastructure or sensitive data repositories within European enterprises.

Organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation approach: 1) Immediately update Adobe Animate to the latest version once patches are released, as no patches are currently available. 2) Until patches are available, restrict or monitor the use of Adobe Animate, especially limiting the opening of Animate files from untrusted or external sources. 3) Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behaviors associated with use-after-free exploitation techniques. 4) Conduct user awareness training focused on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious multimedia files, emphasizing the importance of verifying file sources. 5) Utilize application whitelisting and sandboxing technologies to limit the execution scope of Adobe Animate and contain potential exploits. 6) Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual activities that could indicate exploitation attempts. 7) Implement strict email filtering and attachment scanning to reduce the likelihood of malicious files reaching end users. These steps, combined with timely patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.