CVE-2026-21329 is a Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability identified in Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier. The vulnerability arises when the application improperly manages memory, leading to a condition where previously freed memory is accessed. This can be exploited by an attacker who crafts a malicious After Effects project file that, when opened by a user, triggers the use-after-free condition. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user, potentially enabling the attacker to execute malicious payloads, manipulate files, or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability requires user interaction, specifically opening a malicious file, and does not require elevated privileges or authentication. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). No patches or exploits are currently publicly available, but the risk remains significant due to the widespread use of Adobe After Effects in creative industries. The vulnerability underscores the importance of secure memory management in complex multimedia software.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, particularly to those in creative sectors such as media production, advertising agencies, film studios, and digital content creators that rely heavily on Adobe After Effects. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, resulting in data breaches, intellectual property theft, or disruption of critical workflows. The compromise of user accounts could also serve as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, organizations may face operational downtime, loss of sensitive creative assets, and reputational damage. The requirement for user interaction means social engineering or phishing campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files, increasing the attack surface. Additionally, the lack of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the threat could escalate rapidly once exploit code becomes available.

Organizations should implement a multi-layered defense strategy beyond waiting for official patches. Immediate steps include restricting the opening of After Effects project files from untrusted or unknown sources, employing email and web filtering to block malicious attachments or links, and educating users about the risks of opening unsolicited files. Application whitelisting or sandboxing Adobe After Effects can limit the impact of potential exploitation. Monitoring for unusual process behavior or memory anomalies related to After Effects may help detect exploitation attempts early. Network segmentation can reduce the risk of lateral movement if a system is compromised. Once Adobe releases an official patch, rapid deployment is critical. Additionally, maintaining up-to-date backups of critical project files ensures recovery capability in case of compromise. Organizations should also review and tighten user privilege management to minimize the impact of code execution under user context.