CVE-2022-27529 in AutoCAD 2019
Summary
by MITRE • 04/18/2022
A maliciously crafted PICT, BMP, PSD or TIF file in Autodesk AutoCAD 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019 may be used to write beyond the allocated buffer while parsing PICT, BMP, PSD or TIF file. This vulnerability may be exploited to execute arbitrary code.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/21/2022
This vulnerability represents a critical buffer overflow condition affecting Autodesk AutoCAD versions 2019 through 2022 that arises during the parsing of image files in PICT BMP PSD and TIF formats. The flaw manifests when the software processes maliciously crafted image files that contain malformed data structures which cause the application to write beyond allocated memory boundaries. This type of vulnerability falls under the CWE-121 buffer overflow category and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059 007 for execution through malicious file formats. The buffer overflow occurs specifically within the image parsing routines where insufficient input validation and boundary checking allows attacker-controlled data to overwrite adjacent memory locations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption as it creates opportunities for arbitrary code execution within the context of the AutoCAD process. When an unsuspecting user opens a maliciously crafted image file the vulnerable parsing code executes and allows an attacker to potentially inject and run malicious code on the target system. This represents a significant risk in enterprise environments where AutoCAD is widely used for design and drafting work as users may inadvertently open compromised files from email attachments or shared network drives. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be exploited through social engineering campaigns targeting AutoCAD users in industries such as architecture engineering and construction where these applications are standard tools.
The technical exploitation requires an attacker to craft specific image files that trigger the buffer overflow condition during file parsing operations. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it affects multiple versions of AutoCAD simultaneously, indicating a fundamental flaw in the image processing library rather than a single version-specific issue. The memory corruption pattern suggests that the buffer overflow could potentially be leveraged for privilege escalation attacks or to bypass modern security mitigations such as address space layout randomization and data execution prevention. Organizations should note that this vulnerability represents a high-severity risk that requires immediate attention and remediation. The recommended mitigation strategy involves applying the latest security patches from Autodesk as soon as they become available, while also implementing network segmentation and email filtering to prevent users from accessing potentially malicious image files. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting policies that restrict AutoCAD from opening image files from untrusted sources and regularly monitor for suspicious file access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts.