CVE-2021-42269

Code execution via malformed FLA file use-after-free

Published Nov 18, 2021 · Updated Apr 23, 2025

Use-after-free in Adobe Animate 21.0.9 and earlier allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a malformed FLA file. During FLA file processing, the application accesses an object after its memory has been freed; Adobe has not disclosed the affected parser routine. Exploitation requires user interaction to open the crafted file and runs arbitrary code with the current user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability4.00%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in Adobe Animate 21.0.9 and earlier allows attackers to execute code when a user opens a malformed FLA file. During FLA file processing, the application accesses an object after its memory has been freed; Adobe has not disclosed the affected parser routine. Exploitation requires user interaction to open the crafted file and runs arbitrary code with the current user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-42269
Published
Nov 18, 2021
Updated
Apr 23, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
Adobe Animate
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002, T1203
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 <=21.0.9
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified <=None

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · Adobe Animateversion=unspecified <=21.0.9; version=unspecified <=None

Published CVSS scores

9.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
7.8Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/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-416Use After Free
T1204.002Malicious File
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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