Overview
CVE-2025-30421 is a potent vulnerability that affects the NI Circuit Design Suite, specifically version 14.3.0 and prior. It is a memory corruption vulnerability resulting from a stack-based buffer overflow in the DrObjectStorage::XML_Serialize() function when using the SymbolEditor. This vulnerability could have serious implications for users of this software, as it could potentially lead to unauthorized system compromise or data leakage if successfully exploited.
This particular vulnerability deserves immediate attention due to its severity score of 7.8 and the fact that it can potentially lead to arbitrary code execution or information disclosure, which could have far-reaching consequences for both individual users and organizations that are using the affected versions of the software.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-30421
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local File
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
NI Circuit Design Suite | 14.3.0 and prior versions
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability is triggered when a user opens a specially crafted .sym file with the SymbolEditor in the NI Circuit Design Suite. The .sym file contains malicious code that causes a stack-based buffer overflow in the DrObjectStorage::XML_Serialize() function. This buffer overflow leads to memory corruption, which can result in arbitrary code execution or information disclosure.
Conceptual Example Code
A conceptual example of how this vulnerability might be exploited could look somewhat like this:
# Special crafted .sym file
malicious.sym
# Malicious code inside .sym file
<DrObjectStorage::XML_Serialize>
overflow_data = 'A' * 10000 # Buffer overflow caused due to excessive data
</DrObjectStorage::XML_Serialize>In this hypothetical example, the ‘A’ * 10000 is the excessive data that causes the buffer overflow. When the user opens this malicious .sym file, the overflow_data is processed by the DrObjectStorage::XML_Serialize() function, leading to a buffer overflow, and hence the memory corruption vulnerability.
Please note that this is a conceptual example, and real-world exploitation might involve more complex and specific code.
Recommended Mitigation
Users of the affected software should apply any patches provided by the vendor as soon as they are available. In the meantime, the use of a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) could serve as temporary mitigation strategies, potentially preventing the execution of the malicious .sym file and reducing the risk of system compromise or data leakage.