CVE-2021-40741 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

Adobe Audition version 14.4 (and earlier) is affected by an Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer vulnerability, potentially leading to an application denial-of-service.

Understanding CVE-2021-40741

This CVE involves a vulnerability in Adobe Audition that could allow an unauthenticated attacker to exploit memory corruption, resulting in a denial-of-service attack.

What is CVE-2021-40741?

The vulnerability in Adobe Audition version 14.4 and earlier allows an attacker to trigger a memory corruption issue by manipulating a specifically crafted file. This could lead to an application denial-of-service, impacting the current user's context.

The Impact of CVE-2021-40741

The impact of this CVE is assessed with a CVSS base score of 5.5, categorizing it as a medium severity issue. The key details are:

Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Availability Impact: High

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40741

This section provides more insight into the vulnerability affecting Adobe Audition.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability is classified as Access of Memory Location After End of Buffer (CWE-788), indicating the potential for exploiting memory corruption.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Adobe Audition
Vendor: Adobe
Affected Versions:
Version <= 14.4
Version custom (unspecified)

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of this vulnerability requires user interaction, as the attacker needs the victim to open a malicious file triggering the memory corruption.

Mitigation and Prevention

To address CVE-2021-40741 and enhance system security, the following steps are recommended:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Audition to the patched version.
Exercise caution when opening files from unknown or untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and security patches.
Educate users on safe file handling practices to prevent exploitation.

Patching and Updates

Adobe has released a security update for Audition to mitigate this vulnerability. Apply the latest patches to ensure system safety.