CVE-2022-41199 in 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer
Summary
by MITRE • 10/12/2022
Due to lack of proper memory management, when a victim opens a manipulated Open Inventor File (.iv, vrml.x3d) 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 • 05/15/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-41199 represents a critical memory safety issue within SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer version 9, specifically affecting the handling of manipulated Open Inventor files with .iv extensions and VRML X3D files. This flaw stems from inadequate memory management practices that fail to properly validate or sanitize input data during file parsing operations. The vulnerability operates through a sophisticated attack vector where maliciously crafted 3D model files can be delivered via untrusted sources, potentially compromising systems that process these files through the vulnerable viewer application.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability relies on triggering memory corruption conditions that manifest as either stack-based buffer overflows or use-after-free scenarios involving dangling pointers. When the vulnerable application attempts to parse the manipulated file, it fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation sequences, creating opportunities for attackers to overwrite critical memory regions. The stack-based overflow occurs when insufficient bounds checking allows data to be written beyond allocated buffer boundaries, potentially overwriting return addresses or function pointers. Additionally, the dangling pointer vulnerability arises when the application maintains references to memory locations that have been freed or reallocated, enabling attackers to manipulate overwritten memory spaces to achieve arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution capabilities, as it fundamentally compromises the integrity of systems that rely on 3D visualization for design, engineering, and collaboration processes. Organizations using SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer in enterprise environments face significant risk exposure, particularly in scenarios where users may inadvertently open malicious files from email attachments, shared network drives, or web downloads. The vulnerability affects not only individual user workstations but also enterprise-wide collaboration systems that depend on 3D model sharing and viewing capabilities, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access to critical design data and infrastructure.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2022-41199 should prioritize immediate patching of SAP 3D Visual Enterprise Viewer to the latest security updates provided by SAP, while implementing comprehensive file validation policies that restrict the types of 3D files allowed in enterprise environments. Network segmentation and application whitelisting controls should be deployed to prevent unauthorized execution of potentially malicious 3D files, and user education programs should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted 3D model files from unknown sources. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual file processing patterns and memory allocation behaviors that might indicate exploitation attempts, with particular attention to stack overflow indicators and memory reuse anomalies. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-121 Stack-based Buffer Overflow and CWE-416 Use After Free categories, and represents a technique consistent with ATT&CK tactic TA0002 Execution and technique T1203 Exploitation for Client Execution, making it particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where 3D visualization tools are extensively used for collaborative design processes.