CVE-2014-9268 in Design Review 2013
Summary
by MITRE
The AdView.AdViewer.1 ActiveX control in Autodesk Design Review (ADR) before 2013 Hotfix 1 allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code via a crafted DWF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/07/2022
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2014-9268 represents a critical security flaw in Autodesk Design Review software that affects versions prior to 2013 Hotfix 1. This issue resides within the AdView.AdViewer.1 ActiveX control which is part of the broader Autodesk Design Review application designed for viewing and managing design files. The vulnerability specifically targets the handling of DWF (Design Web Format) files, which are commonly used in architectural and engineering workflows for sharing design data. The flaw enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted DWF files that exploit the ActiveX control's insufficient input validation mechanisms.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper input validation within the ActiveX control's processing of DWF file content. When Autodesk Design Review attempts to parse and render a DWF file through the vulnerable AdView.AdViewer.1 control, the application fails to properly sanitize or validate the file structure and content before executing any embedded code or commands. This lack of proper validation creates an exploitable condition where an attacker can craft a DWF file containing malicious code or malformed data that, when opened by an affected system, triggers arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability operates at the application level and leverages the trust model inherent to ActiveX controls, which are designed to execute with elevated privileges when properly installed on Windows systems.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations that rely on Autodesk Design Review for their design document management and collaboration workflows. The remote execution capability means that attackers can compromise systems simply by enticing users to open malicious DWF files through email attachments, web downloads, or file sharing platforms. The attack vector is particularly dangerous because DWF files are commonly used in professional design environments where users frequently exchange files with external partners, clients, and vendors. The vulnerability affects the entire Windows ecosystem where Autodesk Design Review is installed, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network environments. Organizations with extensive design review workflows are particularly at risk as the attack surface expands with the volume and frequency of DWF file exchanges.
The exploitation of this vulnerability aligns with several ATT&CK framework techniques including execution through malicious file attachments and privilege escalation through trusted applications. The weakness maps directly to CWE-119 Improper Restriction of Operations within a Memory Buffer, as the ActiveX control fails to properly restrict memory operations when processing DWF files. Additionally, this vulnerability demonstrates characteristics of CWE-74 Improper Neutralization of Special Elements in Output Used by a Downstream Component, where the control does not properly neutralize special elements in the DWF file content that could be interpreted as executable code. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including updating to Autodesk Design Review 2013 Hotfix 1 or later versions, disabling ActiveX controls in web browsers where possible, and implementing strict file validation policies for incoming DWF files. Network segmentation and user access controls should be reinforced to limit potential damage from successful exploitation attempts, while security awareness training should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted design files from unknown sources.