CVE-2021-44189

Memory disclosure via JPEG2000 object use-after-free

Published Sep 7, 2023 · Updated Feb 27, 2025

Use-after-free in Adobe After Effects 22.0 and earlier and 18.4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to disclose memory via a crafted JPEG2000 file. The JPEG2000 parser performs operations on an object without first validating that the object still exists. A victim must visit a malicious page or open the file; the resulting memory disclosure can weaken ASLR and support a separate code-execution chain.

CVSS severity3.3
Low
EPSS probability0.33%
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 After Effects 22.0 and earlier and 18.4.2 and earlier allows remote attackers to disclose memory via a crafted JPEG2000 file. The JPEG2000 parser performs operations on an object without first validating that the object still exists. A victim must visit a malicious page or open the file; the resulting memory disclosure can weaken ASLR and support a separate code-execution chain.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-44189
Published
Sep 7, 2023
Updated
Feb 27, 2025
Vendor
Adobe
Product
After Effects
Classifications
CWE-416, T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Sep 7, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 27, 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=0 <=18.4.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Adobe · After Effectsversion=0 <=18.4.2

Published CVSS scores

3.3AdobeCVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N
3.3Adobe Systems IncorporatedCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:L/I:N/A:N

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
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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