CVE-2021-40788 : Security Advisory and Response

Adobe Premiere Elements 20210809.daily.2242976 (and earlier) is affected by a Null pointer dereference vulnerability when parsing a specially crafted file, potentially leading to an application denial-of-service. This CVE was made public on October 26, 2021.

Understanding CVE-2021-40788

Adobe Premiere Elements is susceptible to a Null pointer dereference vulnerability that could result in an application denial-of-service.

What is CVE-2021-40788?

The CVE-2021-40788 is a Null pointer dereference vulnerability found in Adobe Premiere Elements, allowing an unauthenticated attacker to exploit it for an application denial-of-service.

The Impact of CVE-2021-40788

CVSS Base Score: 5.5 (Medium)
Attack Vector: Local
Attack Complexity: Low
User Interaction: Required
Availability Impact: High
This vulnerability requires a victim to open a specially crafted file, enabling an attacker to cause a denial-of-service in the context of the current user.

Technical Details of CVE-2021-40788

Adobe Premiere Elements CVE-2021-40788 focuses on the following technical aspects:

Vulnerability Description

A Null pointer dereference vulnerability in Adobe Premiere Elements 20210809.daily.2242976 could be exploited by an unauthenticated attacker through a malicious file, leading to an application denial-of-service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Affected Product: Premiere Elements
Vendor: Adobe
Affected Versions:
20210809.daily.2242976 and earlier (Custom version)
None specified

Exploitation Mechanism

Exploitation of this vulnerability necessitates user interaction, requiring the victim to open the malevolent file for the attacker to achieve an application denial-of-service.

Mitigation and Prevention

For organizations and individuals using Adobe Premiere Elements, the following steps can be taken to mitigate the CVE-2021-40788 vulnerability:

Immediate Steps to Take

Update Adobe Premiere Elements to the latest version available.
Exercise caution when opening files from unknown or untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement regular security awareness training for users on identifying and handling malicious files.
Employ robust endpoint security solutions to detect and prevent such vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Stay informed about security updates from Adobe and promptly apply patches to mitigate known vulnerabilities.