# CVE-2026-21351: Adobe After Effects use-after-free vulnerability

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-21351-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-2026-21351 · Severity: high · CVSS 7.8 · Published 2026-02-10

Adobe After Effects versions 25.6 and earlier contain a use-after-free vulnerability that could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running the application. An attacker would need to trick a victim into opening a specially crafted file to trigger the exploit, making this a practical risk for creative professionals who frequently work with files from untrusted sources.

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-2026-21351 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-21351 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-21351?** 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-2026-21351?** 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-2026-21351 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-21351?** 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

A use-after-free vulnerability exists in Adobe After Effects where an application function attempts to access memory after it has been freed, potentially allowing execution of attacker-controlled code. The vulnerability affects versions 25.6 and earlier. Exploitation requires user interaction—specifically, the victim must open a malicious file (such as a project file) in After Effects. When triggered, an attacker gains code execution in the context of the current user. A patch or update addressing this issue is likely available from Adobe.

## 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)