CVE-2026-34644: Adobe After Effects Integer Overflow Vulnerability

hello@craftedsignal.io — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:27:29 +0000

Adobe After Effects versions 26.0, 25.6.4, and earlier are susceptible to an integer overflow or wraparound vulnerability, as detailed in CVE-2026-34644. This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current user. Successful exploitation requires user interaction, specifically the opening of a specially crafted, malicious file within After Effects. This vulnerability poses a significant risk to users who regularly handle project files from untrusted sources, as successful exploitation could lead to system compromise.

Attack Chain

Attacker crafts a malicious Adobe After Effects project file (.aep or similar) designed to trigger an integer overflow during processing.
The attacker distributes the malicious file to the victim, potentially through phishing, social engineering, or other means.
The victim, unaware of the threat, opens the malicious file using a vulnerable version of Adobe After Effects (<= 26.0, 25.6.4).
During file parsing, the integer overflow occurs, leading to memory corruption.
The memory corruption allows the attacker to overwrite critical data structures within the After Effects process.
The attacker leverages the corrupted memory to inject and execute arbitrary code.
The attacker’s code executes within the context of the current user, granting them the same privileges.
The attacker can then perform malicious actions such as installing malware, stealing data, or gaining persistent access to the system.

Impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-34644 allows for arbitrary code execution within the context of the user running After Effects. The vulnerability requires user interaction, limiting the scale of potential attacks. However, if successful, attackers can gain complete control over the user’s system, potentially leading to data theft, malware installation, or further network compromise. Targeted attacks against individuals in creative fields could result in significant financial and reputational damage.

Recommendation

Upgrade Adobe After Effects to a version beyond 26.0 or 25.6.4 to patch CVE-2026-34644 as recommended by Adobe.
Educate users about the risks of opening files from untrusted sources to mitigate the user interaction component.
Deploy the Sigma rule “Detect Suspicious After Effects File Opening” to identify potential exploitation attempts by monitoring process creations related to After Effects opening unusual files.
Consider using application control solutions to restrict the execution of unauthorized code within the After Effects process to limit the impact of successful exploitation.

CVE-2026-34643: Adobe After Effects Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability

hello@craftedsignal.io — Tue, 12 May 2026 18:27:12 +0000

Adobe After Effects versions 26.0, 25.6.4, and older are vulnerable to an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CVE-2026-34643). This flaw could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the context of the currently logged-on user. Successful exploitation requires a user to open a specially crafted, malicious file using the affected version of After Effects. The vulnerability poses a significant risk to users who handle files from untrusted sources, as it could lead to system compromise.

Attack Chain

Attacker crafts a malicious After Effects project file (.aep) designed to trigger an out-of-bounds write.
The attacker delivers the malicious .aep file to a victim, likely through email or file sharing.
The victim opens the malicious .aep file using a vulnerable version of Adobe After Effects (26.0, 25.6.4, or earlier).
After Effects processes the crafted file, leading to the out-of-bounds write condition during parsing.
The out-of-bounds write corrupts memory, potentially overwriting critical data structures.
The attacker leverages the memory corruption to inject and execute arbitrary code.
The injected code executes within the context of the After Effects process, inheriting the user’s privileges.
The attacker gains control of the system, enabling them to perform actions such as installing malware, stealing data, or further compromising the network.

Impact

Successful exploitation of CVE-2026-34643 allows for arbitrary code execution on the victim’s system. This can result in complete system compromise, data theft, malware installation, and further propagation of the attack within an organization. Given the popularity of After Effects in creative industries, a successful attack could have widespread consequences.

Recommendation

Upgrade to a version of Adobe After Effects that is not affected by CVE-2026-34643.
Exercise caution when opening After Effects project files (.aep) from untrusted sources, as exploitation requires user interaction.
Monitor process creation events for suspicious child processes spawned by After Effects using process creation logs to detect potential exploitation, as outlined in the provided Sigma rules.
Consider implementing application control policies to restrict the execution of unauthorized code within the After Effects process.

After Effects (<= 26.0) — CraftedSignal Threat Feed

CVE-2026-34644: Adobe After Effects Integer Overflow Vulnerability

Attack Chain

Impact

Recommendation

CVE-2026-34643: Adobe After Effects Out-of-Bounds Write Vulnerability

Attack Chain

Impact

Recommendation