# CVE-2026-21329: Adobe After Effects use-after-free vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-21329-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-2026-21329 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-02-10

Adobe After Effects is a professional video and motion graphics application used by creative professionals. A use-after-free vulnerability in versions 25.6 and earlier could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application if they trick the user into opening a specially crafted file. This could lead to data theft, system compromise, or unauthorized access to creative projects.

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-2026-21329 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-21329 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-21329?** 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-2026-21329?** 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-2026-21329 attacked?** It is attacked with local access, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-21329?** 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 corruption issue in After Effects. The attack requires user interaction—specifically, a victim must open a malicious file—making social engineering or file delivery the primary attack vector. Successful exploitation allows an attacker to achieve arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. The vulnerability affects After Effects version 25.6 and earlier. Patch status and availability are not detailed in the provided advisory.

## 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)