CVE-2021-40753

Code execution via out-of-bounds SVG parsing

Published Nov 18, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Memory corruption in Adobe After Effects 18.4.1 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious SVG file. The SVG parser accesses memory beyond the end of a buffer while processing attacker-controlled SVG content. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file, after which code runs with that user's privileges on the affected workstation.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.27%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Memory corruption in Adobe After Effects 18.4.1 and earlier allows attackers to execute code through a malicious SVG file. The SVG parser accesses memory beyond the end of a buffer while processing attacker-controlled SVG content. Exploitation requires a user to open the crafted file, after which code runs with that user's privileges on the affected workstation.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40753
Published
Nov 18, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
After Effects
Classifications
CWE-788, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Nov 18, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Apr 23, 2025Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=18.4.1
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · After Effectsversion=unspecified <=18.4.1; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8AdobeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-788Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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