CVE-2022-41189 in 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2022
Due to lack of proper memory management, when a victim opens a manipulated AutoCAD (.dwg, TeighaTranslator.exe) file received from untrusted sources in SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer - version 9, it is possible that a Remote Code Execution can be triggered when payload forces a stack-based overflow or a re-use of dangling pointer which refers to overwritten space in memory.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/20/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41189 represents a critical memory safety issue within SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9, specifically affecting the processing of AutoCAD files with extensions .dwg and TeighaTranslator.exe. This flaw arises from inadequate memory management practices during file parsing operations, creating a pathway for remote code execution when victims open manipulated files from untrusted sources. The vulnerability exploits fundamental memory corruption mechanisms that have long been recognized as high-risk threats in software security assessments.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves stack-based buffer overflows or dangling pointer reuse scenarios that occur when the viewer processes malformed AutoCAD files. When an attacker crafts a malicious .dwg file or TeighaTranslator.exe file, the SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer fails to properly validate or sanitize input data during the parsing process. This insufficient validation allows the malicious payload to overwrite critical memory segments, potentially leading to arbitrary code execution. The stack-based overflow occurs when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, while the dangling pointer reuse happens when the system references memory that has been freed but not properly cleared, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate program execution flow.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability poses significant risks to organizations relying on SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer for engineering and design visualization tasks. The remote code execution capability means that attackers can potentially compromise systems simply by enticing users to open malicious files, making this a particularly dangerous threat vector. The attack surface extends beyond individual user systems to include entire enterprise networks where design and engineering teams collaborate using shared file systems. The vulnerability's exploitation does not require user interaction beyond opening the file, making it particularly stealthy and difficult to detect through conventional security monitoring approaches.
Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including restricting access to the SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer application, implementing strict file validation policies for AutoCAD files, and deploying network-based intrusion detection systems to monitor for suspicious file access patterns. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-416 Use After Free, both of which are classified as high-severity issues in the Common Weakness Enumeration catalog. From an ATT&CK framework perspective, this vulnerability maps to T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution and T1059 Command and Scripting Interpreter, representing a classic attack pattern where adversaries leverage application vulnerabilities to execute malicious code. The recommended remediation includes applying the latest security patches from SAP, implementing application whitelisting policies, and conducting regular security assessments of file handling processes within enterprise environments.