CVE-2026-21350: 
Adobe After Effects vulnerability analysis and mitigation

CVE-2026-21350 is a NULL Pointer Dereference vulnerability (CWE-476) in Adobe After Effects that can result in application denial-of-service and, under certain conditions, arbitrary code execution. It affects Adobe After Effects versions prior to 25.6.4 and was disclosed on February 10, 2026, with a patch released the same day. The vulnerability carries a CVSS v3.1 base score of 5.5 (Medium) for the denial-of-service impact, though the broader advisory context rates the arbitrary code execution impact as Critical (Adobe Advisory, Feedly).

The root cause is a NULL Pointer Dereference (CWE-476) in Adobe After Effects, triggered when the application processes a specially crafted file. The attack vector is local, requiring low attack complexity and no privileges, but does require user interaction — specifically, a victim must open a malicious file. An attacker could leverage social engineering to deliver the crafted file, causing the application to dereference a null pointer, leading to a crash (denial-of-service) or potentially arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the After Effects process (Adobe Advisory, Feedly).

Successful exploitation can cause application denial-of-service (crash) or arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the Adobe After Effects process. Since the attack is local and requires user interaction, the primary risk involves social engineering scenarios where a victim opens a malicious project or media file. There is no impact on confidentiality or integrity in the denial-of-service scenario, but arbitrary code execution could allow an attacker to access sensitive data or perform unauthorized actions on the affected system (Adobe Advisory, Feedly).

1. Craft malicious file: An attacker creates a specially crafted Adobe After Effects project file or supported media file designed to trigger a NULL pointer dereference when parsed by the application.
2. Social engineering delivery: The attacker delivers the malicious file to a target user via email, file-sharing platform, or other means, disguising it as a legitimate After Effects project.
3. User opens file: The victim opens the malicious file in an unpatched version of Adobe After Effects (prior to 25.6.4).
4. Trigger vulnerability: The application attempts to process the crafted file, encounters a null pointer dereference, and either crashes (denial-of-service) or, in an exploitation scenario, executes attacker-controlled code with the privileges of the After Effects process (Adobe Advisory, Feedly).

• Process: Unexpected crash or termination of the Adobe After Effects process (AfterFX.exe on Windows) after opening an untrusted file.
• Logs: Application crash logs or Windows Event Viewer entries referencing AfterFX.exe with access violation or null pointer exception errors.
• File System: Presence of unexpected or unsolicited After Effects project files (.aep, .aepx) or media files received from unknown sources in user directories.
• Network: Unusual outbound network connections from the After Effects process following file open events, which may indicate post-exploitation activity.

Adobe has released a patch in Adobe After Effects version 25.6.4, which resolves this vulnerability. Users should update to version 25.6.4 or later immediately via the Creative Cloud desktop application. As a precautionary measure, users should avoid opening After Effects project files or media files from untrusted or unknown sources. Organizations may also consider implementing application whitelisting and restricting execution of untrusted files (Adobe Advisory).

The Center for Internet Security (CIS) issued an advisory noting that multiple vulnerabilities in Adobe products, including this one, could allow for arbitrary code execution, recommending prompt patching (CIS Advisory). Beyond Machines also covered Adobe's February 2026 patch release, highlighting the breadth of fixes across multiple Adobe products. No significant independent researcher commentary or social media discussion has been identified for this specific CVE.