CVE-2025-54240 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe After Effects versions 25.3, 24.6.7, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly handles memory bounds while processing certain data structures, allowing an attacker to read memory locations outside the intended buffer. The consequence of this flaw is potential exposure of sensitive information residing in adjacent memory areas, which could include confidential project data, user credentials, or other sensitive runtime information. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the victim opening a crafted malicious After Effects project file. The vulnerability does not allow for code execution or modification of data but compromises confidentiality by leaking memory contents. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 5.5 (medium severity), reflecting the local attack vector (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The impact is limited to confidentiality (C:H), with no impact on integrity or availability. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches or updates have been linked yet. Given the nature of the vulnerability, it is primarily a privacy and information disclosure risk rather than a direct system compromise or denial of service threat.

For European organizations, the primary impact of CVE-2025-54240 is the potential leakage of sensitive or proprietary information contained within After Effects project files or memory during processing. This could include intellectual property, client data, or confidential multimedia assets, which are critical for media, advertising, and creative industries prevalent in Europe. While the vulnerability does not enable code execution or system takeover, the exposure of sensitive data could lead to reputational damage, loss of competitive advantage, or compliance issues under regulations such as GDPR if personal data is inadvertently disclosed. The requirement for user interaction (opening a malicious file) limits the attack surface but does not eliminate risk, especially in environments where files are shared or received from external sources. Organizations relying heavily on Adobe After Effects for content creation should be aware of this vulnerability to prevent inadvertent data leaks.

To mitigate CVE-2025-54240, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Educate users, especially creative teams, about the risks of opening After Effects project files from untrusted or unknown sources to reduce the likelihood of exploitation. 2) Establish strict file handling policies and scanning of incoming project files with advanced malware detection tools that can identify malformed or suspicious files targeting After Effects. 3) Monitor Adobe’s security advisories closely for the release of patches or updates addressing this vulnerability and prioritize timely deployment once available. 4) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques for After Effects to limit the impact of any potential exploitation. 5) Use data loss prevention (DLP) solutions to monitor and control sensitive data flows within creative workflows, minimizing the risk of data exposure. 6) Maintain robust endpoint security and network segmentation to reduce the risk of lateral movement should an attacker attempt to leverage this vulnerability as part of a broader attack chain.