# CVE-2026-21326: Adobe After Effects use-after-free vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-21326-adobe-after-effects-use-after-free-vulnerability  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-02-10. Updated: 2026-09-25  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-21326 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-02-10

Adobe After Effects, a professional video editing and motion graphics software, contains a use-after-free vulnerability that could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. An attacker would need to trick a user into opening a malicious file to trigger the vulnerability. Successful exploitation could lead to complete system compromise depending on the victim's user privileges.

Technologies: [Adobe After Effects](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/after-effects), [Apple macOS](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/macos), [Microsoft Windows](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/windows). Vendors: [Adobe](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/adobe), [Apple](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/apple), [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-21326 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-21326 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-21326?** High severity, with a CVSS score of 7.8, published 10 February 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Adobe After Effects 25.6 and earlier.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-21326?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-21326 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-21326?** Check whether you run Adobe After Effects, Apple macOS or Microsoft Windows at an affected version. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

The vulnerability is a use-after-free memory safety issue in Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier. The flaw allows an attacker to craft a malicious file that, when opened by a victim, triggers improper memory handling leading to arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. User interaction is required to open the malicious file. The vulnerability has not been reported as actively exploited in the wild as of the publication date. Adobe has issued security advisory APSB26-15 with patches addressing this issue.

## Affected products

- Adobe After Effects 25.6 and earlier

## Timeline

- 2026-02-10: disclosed

## References

- [https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/after_effects/apsb26-15.html](https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/after_effects/apsb26-15.html)

## Related threats

- [Adobe After Effects heap-based buffer overflow](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-123263-after-effects-is-affected-by-a-heap-based-buffer-overflow)
- [Adobe After Effects out-of-bounds write vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113538-after-effects-is-affected-by-an-out-of-bounds-write)
- [Adobe After Effects out-of-bounds write arbitrary code execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113536-after-effects-is-affected-by-an-out-of-bounds-write)
- [Adobe After Effects improper input validation arbitrary code execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113534-after-effects-is-affected-by-an-improper-input-validation)
- [Adobe After Effects path traversal in file handling](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-113532-after-effects-is-affected-by-an-improper-limitation-of-a)