Overview

In the realm of cybersecurity, one of the most pernicious threats is that which targets software vulnerabilities to execute arbitrary code. One such vulnerability has been identified in Substance3D – Modeler versions 1.22.0 and earlier. This particular vulnerability, known as CVE-2025-49571, has the potential to open the door to malicious actors who could manipulate the application’s search path, thereby gaining the power to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. This could lead to potential system compromise or data leakage, thereby posing a significant risk to the integrity and security of the user’s system.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-49571
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: Low
User Interaction: None
Impact: Potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Substance3D – Modeler | 1.22.0 and earlier

How the Exploit Works

The flaw lies in the way Substance3D – Modeler handles search paths when locating critical resources such as programs. If an attacker gains access to the system and manages to manipulate the search path, they could divert the application to a malicious program, tricking the application into executing it. As this program runs in the context of the current user, the attacker could potentially gain the same access rights and permissions as the user, thereby leading to a potential system compromise or data leakage.

Conceptual Example Code

Although the specific details of how this vulnerability is exploited will depend on the exact system configuration and the attacker’s objectives, the conceptual example below provides an idea of how an attacker might manipulate the search path.

# Attacker places malicious script in a directory
echo "echo 'You have been hacked!'" > /tmp/evil.sh
chmod +x /tmp/evil.sh
# Attacker manipulates PATH variable to include the directory with the malicious script
export PATH=/tmp:$PATH
# When the application tries to execute a legitimate program, it executes the malicious script instead
./legitimate_program

This example demonstrates a simple scenario and the actual exploitation could be much more complex and harmful. However, it gives an idea of the fundamental mechanics of the vulnerability.
To mitigate this vulnerability, users of Substance3D – Modeler versions 1.22.0 and earlier should apply the vendor patch as soon as possible. As a temporary mitigation, users can employ a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS). However, these measures are not a substitute for applying the patch and updating the software to a secure version.