Overview
The Common Vulnerabilities and Exposures (CVE) system has issued a high-severity alert, CVE-2025-1656, affecting Autodesk applications. This vulnerability is associated with a Heap-Based Overflow that is triggered when a maliciously crafted PDF file is linked or imported into Autodesk applications. The vulnerability is particularly worrisome because it can potentially lead to system compromise and data leakage. Given the widespread use of Autodesk software in various industries, including manufacturing, architecture, engineering, and entertainment, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to a large number of users and businesses.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-1656
Severity: High (CVSS: 7.8)
Attack Vector: Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: System compromise, data leakage, execution of arbitrary code, application crash
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Autodesk AutoCAD | All versions until patched
Autodesk Revit | All versions until patched
How the Exploit Works
This exploit works by taking advantage of the Heap-Based Overflow vulnerability present in Autodesk applications. An attacker would create a PDF file embedded with malicious code. When this PDF is linked or imported into an Autodesk application, the application is tricked into executing the malicious code. This results in a crash, the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the current process, or the reading of sensitive data, leading to a potential system compromise or data leakage.
Conceptual Example Code
While it’s not possible to provide exact malicious code, the following is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited using a shell command:
# Malicious actor creates a PDF file with embedded code
$ echo "malicious_code" > payload.txt
$ pdftk input.pdf update_info payload.txt output malicious.pdf
# The malicious PDF is then linked or imported into the Autodesk applicationMitigation Guidance
To mitigate the risks associated with CVE-2025-1656, it’s recommended to apply the vendor patch as soon as it becomes available. Autodesk is expected to release a patch addressing this vulnerability in its upcoming updates. Until then, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary measure to detect and prevent potential exploits. It’s also advisable to avoid opening PDF files from unknown or untrusted sources within Autodesk applications.