Overview
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) program has recently identified a significant vulnerability in Animate versions 24.0.8, 23.0.11 and earlier. This vulnerability, classified as CVE-2025-43555, is an Integer Underflow (Wrap or Wraparound) that could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The severity of this vulnerability is compounded by the fact that its exploitation could lead to system compromise or data leakage, making it a critical issue for all users of the affected Animate versions. This article aims to provide detailed insight into this vulnerability, its potential impact, and how users can mitigate the potential risks.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-43555
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Arbitrary code execution, potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Animate | 24.0.8 and earlier versions
Animate | 23.0.11 and earlier versions
How the Exploit Works
The Integer Underflow vulnerability occurs when an integer used in the software’s operation is decremented below its minimum value, causing it to wrap around to its maximum value. In this case, a malicious actor could craft a file that, when opened by a victim, triggers the underflow and allows the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the current user. This could potentially give the attacker the same rights as the current user, leading to system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
The following is a conceptual example of how a malicious file might be crafted to exploit the vulnerability. Please note that this is a simplified example and real-world exploits may be more complex.
# integer underflow exploit
# arbitrary function that triggers underflow
def trigger_underflow(input):
minimum_value = 0
underflow_value = input - 1
if underflow_value < minimum_value:
underflow_value = MAX_INT
return underflow_value
# crafted file with malicious payload
with open('malicious_file', 'w') as f:
f.write('malicious_payload: ' + str(trigger_underflow(0)))As shown in the above pseudocode, the attacker writes a malicious payload to a file, which when opened, triggers an integer underflow, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution.
Mitigation Guidance
Users affected by this vulnerability should apply the vendor patch as soon as it’s available. In the meantime, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or an Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can provide temporary mitigation. It is also advisable to avoid opening files from untrusted sources. Regularly updating software and maintaining a robust cybersecurity posture is critical to mitigating such vulnerabilities.