CVE-2026-21325
Published: 10 February 2026
Summary
CVE-2026-21325 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Read (CWE-125) vulnerability in Adobe After Effects. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Exploitation for Client Execution (T1203); ranked at the 4.4th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 SI-16 (Memory Protection) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly requires timely patching of the out-of-bounds read vulnerability in After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier as provided in Adobe's APSB26-15 security bulletin.
Implements memory safeguards like ASLR and DEP to prevent arbitrary code execution from the out-of-bounds read past allocated memory structures.
Enables vulnerability scanning to identify systems running vulnerable After Effects versions affected by this CVE.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
OOB read in file parser directly enables RCE via crafted malicious file opened by user (T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution + T1204.002 Malicious File).
NVD Description
After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability when parsing a crafted file, which could result in a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute…
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code in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2026-21325 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability (CWE-125) affecting Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier. The flaw arises when parsing a crafted file, which could result in a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. Published on 2026-02-10, it carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 7.8 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Exploitation requires an attacker to have local access to the target system with low complexity and no privileges, but necessitates user interaction as the victim must open a malicious file. Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user, potentially leading to high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability.
Adobe's security bulletin APSB26-15 provides details on mitigations and patches: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/after_effects/apsb26-15.html.
Details
- CWE(s)