CVE-2020-24418
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2020-24418 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability in Adobe After Effects that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user by tricking them into opening a malicious .aepx file. This affects users running Adobe After Effects version 17.1.1 and earlier. Successful exploitation requires user interaction to open the crafted file.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe After Effects
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with attacker gaining the same privileges as the logged-in user, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Local code execution allowing malware installation, credential theft, or data exfiltration from the affected system.
If Mitigated
Limited impact due to user awareness preventing malicious file execution, with potential application crash being the primary consequence.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction to open a malicious file. No public proof-of-concept has been disclosed as of the advisory date.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 17.1.2 and later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/after_effects/apsb20-62.html
Restart Required: Yes
Instructions:
1. Open Adobe Creative Cloud application. 2. Navigate to the 'Apps' section. 3. Find Adobe After Effects and click 'Update'. 4. Follow the installation prompts. 5. Restart the system after installation completes.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Block .aepx file execution
allPrevent execution of .aepx files through application control or file extension blocking
User awareness training
allEducate users to only open .aepx files from trusted sources
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to prevent execution of unauthorized files
- Restrict user privileges to limit potential damage from successful exploitation
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Adobe After Effects version via Help > About After Effects. If version is 17.1.1 or earlier, the system is vulnerable.Check Version:
On Windows: Check via Help > About After Effects in the application. On macOS: Check via After Effects > About After Effects.Verify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 17.1.2 or later via Help > About After Effects. Test opening known safe .aepx files to ensure functionality.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes with memory access violations
- Unexpected .aepx file processing events
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections after .aepx file processing
SIEM Query:
source="*after_effects*" AND (event_type="crash" OR file_extension=".aepx")