CVE-2025-43569: Arbitrary Code Execution Vulnerability in Substance3D – Stager

Overview

A critical vulnerability has been identified in Substance3D – Stager versions 3.1.1 and earlier that carries a high severity score of 7.8. This vulnerability could potentially allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code in the context of the current user. The exploit requires user interaction as a victim must open a malicious file, which could lead to system compromise or data leakage. This vulnerability is especially concerning as it affects a broad range of users and could have significant impacts if not addressed promptly.

Vulnerability Summary

CVE ID: CVE-2025-43569
Severity: High (7.8)
Attack Vector: Local
Privileges Required: None
User Interaction: Required
Impact: Arbitrary code execution, potential system compromise or data leakage

Affected Products

Product | Affected Versions

Substance3D – Stager | 3.1.1 and earlier

How the Exploit Works

The vulnerability resides in an out-of-bounds write error within the Substance3D – Stager software. By crafting a malicious file and inducing a user to open it, an attacker can trigger the out-of-bounds write error. This error condition can be manipulated by an attacker to write data beyond the intended buffer boundary, potentially leading to the execution of arbitrary code in the context of the current user.

Conceptual Example Code

Here is a conceptual example of how an attacker might craft a malicious file to exploit this vulnerability. This is a simplified representation and actual exploitation would likely require more complex techniques:

# Attacker creates malicious file
echo "malicious_payload" > malicious_file.stg
# Attacker sends malicious file to the victim
scp malicious_file.stg victim@target.example.com:/home/victim/
# Victim opens the malicious file with Substance3D - Stager
victim@target.example.com:~$ stager open malicious_file.stg

In this example, `malicious_payload` represents the carefully crafted data that triggers the out-of-bounds write error and leads to arbitrary code execution. The file is then sent to the victim who opens it with the vulnerable software, resulting in the execution of the malicious code.

Mitigation Guidance

Users are advised to apply the vendor patch as soon as possible to mitigate this vulnerability. As a temporary mitigation, a Web Application Firewall (WAF) or Intrusion Detection System (IDS) can be used to detect and block attempts to exploit this vulnerability. Users should also exercise caution when opening files from untrusted sources, as user interaction is required for this vulnerability to be exploited.