CVE-2026-21330 is a type confusion vulnerability (CWE-843) found in Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier. Type confusion occurs when a program accesses a resource using an incompatible type, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential memory corruption. In this case, the flaw can be exploited by an attacker who crafts a malicious After Effects project file that, when opened by a user, triggers the vulnerability. This results in arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user, allowing the attacker to potentially install malware, steal data, or disrupt system operations. The vulnerability requires user interaction, specifically opening a malicious file, and does not require any prior authentication or elevated privileges. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 indicates 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 are currently linked, suggesting that Adobe may not have released a fix at the time of this report. No known exploits in the wild have been reported, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for arbitrary code execution and the widespread use of After Effects in professional environments.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk, especially those in creative industries such as media production, advertising agencies, and digital content creators who rely heavily on Adobe After Effects. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of affected workstations, resulting in data theft, intellectual property loss, or disruption of business operations. Since the attack requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious files. The arbitrary code execution capability means attackers could deploy ransomware, spyware, or other malware, impacting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of critical systems. Given the collaborative nature of creative projects, compromised systems could also serve as pivot points for lateral movement within corporate networks. The lack of available patches increases the window of exposure, making timely mitigation critical.

1. Monitor Adobe’s official channels closely for patch releases and apply updates immediately once available. 2. Implement strict email and file filtering policies to block or quarantine suspicious After Effects project files from untrusted sources. 3. Educate users, especially creative teams, about the risks of opening files from unknown or untrusted origins and encourage verification before opening. 4. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous behaviors associated with exploitation attempts, such as unusual process spawning or memory manipulation. 5. Use application whitelisting to restrict execution of unauthorized code and scripts. 6. Segment networks to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 7. Regularly back up critical data and verify restore procedures to mitigate ransomware risks. 8. Consider sandboxing or opening untrusted files in isolated environments to prevent system-wide impact.