CVE-2026-21318 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) affecting Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly handles memory during processing of certain file inputs, allowing an attacker to write data outside the intended buffer boundaries. Such memory corruption can lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically that the victim opens a maliciously crafted After Effects project or file. No authentication is required, and the attacker can leverage this to execute code that compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8, indicating high severity, with vector metrics AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H, meaning local attack vector, low attack complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required, unchanged scope, and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the risk remains significant due to the potential for arbitrary code execution. Adobe After Effects is widely used in creative industries, making this vulnerability particularly relevant to organizations involved in media production, advertising, and digital content creation. The vulnerability could be exploited to deploy malware, ransomware, or conduct espionage by compromising systems through crafted project files.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of systems running Adobe After Effects. Given the software's prevalence in creative sectors such as media, advertising, film production, and digital content creation, exploitation could lead to unauthorized access, data theft, or disruption of critical creative workflows. The arbitrary code execution capability allows attackers to install malware, move laterally within networks, or exfiltrate sensitive intellectual property. Since exploitation requires user interaction, targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files. The impact extends to operational downtime, reputational damage, and potential regulatory consequences under GDPR if personal data is compromised. The lack of available patches increases the urgency for organizations to implement interim mitigations. Overall, this vulnerability threatens both business continuity and data security in European creative industries and associated supply chains.

1. Until Adobe releases a patch, restrict the opening of After Effects project files to trusted sources only, implementing strict file validation and scanning for malicious content. 2. Educate users, especially creative teams, about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected After Effects files, emphasizing caution with email attachments and downloads. 3. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor for suspicious behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unusual memory writes or process injections related to After Effects. 4. Use application whitelisting to limit execution of unauthorized scripts or binaries spawned by After Effects. 5. Implement network segmentation to isolate systems running After Effects from critical infrastructure and sensitive data repositories. 6. Maintain up-to-date backups of creative projects and system states to enable recovery in case of compromise. 7. Monitor threat intelligence feeds for updates on exploit availability and patch releases from Adobe, applying updates promptly once available. 8. Consider deploying sandboxing or virtualized environments for opening untrusted After Effects files to contain potential exploits.