Overview
The CVE-2025-1273 concerns a serious vulnerability in Autodesk applications that could lead to potential system compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability, classified as a Heap-Based Overflow, can be triggered by a maliciously crafted PDF file linked or imported into Autodesk applications. This article aims to provide an in-depth understanding of this vulnerability, including who it affects, how it is exploited, and ways to mitigate the risk. This vulnerability is of high importance because it not only affects the stability of the system by causing a crash but also allows unauthorized reading of sensitive data and execution of arbitrary code.
Vulnerability Summary
CVE ID: CVE-2025-1273
Severity: High (7.8 CVSS Score)
Attack Vector: Local Network
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Potential system compromise and data leakage
Affected Products
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Product | Affected Versions
Autodesk AutoCAD | All versions prior to the latest patch
Autodesk Revit | All versions prior to the latest patch
How the Exploit Works
The exploitation of this vulnerability begins with a malicious actor crafting a PDF file containing malicious code. This PDF file is then either linked or imported into any of the affected Autodesk applications. Due to the vulnerability in the software, the application fails to properly handle the imported file, leading to a Heap-Based Overflow. This overflow can be leveraged by the attacker to cause a system crash, read sensitive data, or even execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process.
Conceptual Example Code
Here is a conceptual example of how the vulnerability might be exploited. Please note that this is a simplified representation and actual exploitation may involve more complex steps.
POST /importpdf HTTP/1.1
Host: vulnerable-autodesk-app.example.com
Content-Type: application/pdf
{ "malicious_pdf_data": "..." }In this example, the attacker sends a POST request to the Autodesk application’s PDF import endpoint, including the maliciously crafted PDF data in the request body.
Mitigation Guidance
The primary mitigation strategy is to apply patches provided by Autodesk. These patches address the vulnerability by properly handling the import and linkage of PDF files in the application. In instances where patching is not immediately possible, using a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can serve as a temporary mitigation measure by blocking or alerting on suspicious activity related to this vulnerability. Regularly updating your software to the latest versions and educating users on the risks of opening untrusted PDF files can also help reduce the risk of exploitation.