Code execution via out-of-bounds M4A parsing
Published Mar 16, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
Memory corruption in Adobe Character Animator 4.4 and earlier allows attackers to execute code by opening a crafted M4A file. The M4A parser accesses memory past the end of a buffer while processing attacker-controlled file data; Adobe has not disclosed the affected function. Exploitation requires user interaction, and code runs with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.
Summary
What happened
Memory corruption in Adobe Character Animator 4.4 and earlier allows attackers to execute code by opening a crafted M4A file. The M4A parser accesses memory past the end of a buffer while processing attacker-controlled file data; Adobe has not disclosed the affected function. Exploitation requires user interaction, and code runs with the current user's privileges on Windows or macOS.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-40764
- Published
- Mar 16, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Adobe
- Product
- Adobe Character Animator
- Classifications
- CWE-788, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Mar 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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.
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=4.4
- Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
Published CVSS scores
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
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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