Code execution via M4A out-of-bounds write
Published Jun 13, 2022 · Updated Apr 23, 2025
Out-of-bounds write in Adobe Media Encoder 15.4 and earlier allows attackers to execute code after a user opens a malicious M4A file. The M4A parser writes beyond an allocated buffer while processing crafted file data, although Adobe has not disclosed the affected function or field. Exploitation requires local file processing and user interaction, and resulting code runs with the current user's privileges.
Summary
What happened
Out-of-bounds write in Adobe Media Encoder 15.4 and earlier allows attackers to execute code after a user opens a malicious M4A file. The M4A parser writes beyond an allocated buffer while processing crafted file data, although Adobe has not disclosed the affected function or field. Exploitation requires local file processing and user interaction, and resulting code runs with the current user's privileges.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2021-46817
- Published
- Jun 13, 2022
- Updated
- Apr 23, 2025
- Vendor
- Adobe
- Product
- Adobe Media Encoder
- Classifications
- CWE-787, T1204.002
- Attack vector
- local
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- Jun 13, 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 <=15.4
- 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.
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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