Overview
The cybersecurity landscape is continuously evolving, with new vulnerabilities discovered every day. One such vulnerability, dubbed CVE-2025-7042, exists in SOLIDWORKS eDrawings, a popular software for creating and viewing 3D models and drawings. This specific vulnerability pertains to a Use After Free issue encountered while reading IPT files. If exploited, this vulnerability could allow a potential attacker to execute arbitrary code, resulting in severe consequences such as system compromise or data leakage.
Given the widespread use of SOLIDWORKS eDrawings in various industries, including manufacturing, design, and engineering, this vulnerability could potentially impact a large number of users and organizations. Therefore, understanding this vulnerability and implementing the necessary mitigation steps is of utmost importance.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-7042
Severity: High, CVSS Score 7.8
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
SOLIDWORKS eDrawings | SOLIDWORKS Desktop 2025
How the Exploit Works
The vulnerability stems from a Use After Free condition during the IPT file reading procedure in SOLIDWORKS eDrawings. Essentially, the software uses memory after it has been freed, which can lead to program instability, crashes, or worse, arbitrary code execution. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by tricking a user into opening a specially crafted IPT file, which has been manipulated to trigger the vulnerability and execute the attacker’s code.
Conceptual Example Code
Here’s a conceptual example of how an attacker might exploit this vulnerability using a malformed IPT file:
# Assume this command generates a malicious IPT file
$ exploit_toolkit --generate-ipt --output malicious.ipt
# The attacker then sends this IPT file to the victim
$ email_victim --attach malicious.ipt --to victim@example.comIn this scenario, the attacker uses an exploit toolkit to generate a malicious IPT file. The attacker then sends this file to the victim, who, upon opening the file with SOLIDWORKS eDrawings, unknowingly triggers the Use After Free vulnerability, leading to the execution of the attacker’s arbitrary code.
Mitigation
The primary mitigation measure for this vulnerability is to apply the vendor-supplied patch as soon as possible. In the meantime, or if the patch can’t be applied immediately, deploying a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation. These systems can potentially detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Users are also advised to exercise caution when opening IPT files, especially those received from untrusted sources.
