CVE-2021-40765

Code execution via M4A out-of-bounds access

Published Mar 16, 2022 · Updated Sep 16, 2024

Memory corruption in Adobe Character Animator 4.4 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted M4A file. The M4A parser accesses memory beyond the end of a buffer while processing file data, corrupting process memory. Exploitation requires a user to open the malicious file, and successful code runs with that user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.65%
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 Character Animator 4.4 and earlier allows context-dependent attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted M4A file. The M4A parser accesses memory beyond the end of a buffer while processing file data, corrupting process memory. Exploitation requires a user to open the malicious file, and successful code runs with that user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-40765
Published
Mar 16, 2022
Updated
Sep 16, 2024
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Character Animator
Classifications
CWE-119, CWE-788, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Mar 16, 2022CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Sep 16, 2024Record 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 <=4.4
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Character Animatorversion=unspecified <=4.4; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

7.8AdobeCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NIST NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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-119Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer
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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