CVE-2022-42934 in AutoCAD
Summary
by MITRE • 10/21/2022
A malicious crafted .dwf or .pct file when consumed through DesignReview.exe application could lead to memory corruption vulnerability by write access violation. This vulnerability in conjunction with other vulnerabilities could lead to code execution in the context of the current process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/07/2025
This vulnerability affects the DesignReview.exe application which processes Autodesk DWF and PCT file formats. The flaw manifests as a memory corruption issue that occurs when the application handles specially crafted malicious files. The vulnerability specifically involves a write access violation during file processing, indicating that the application fails to properly validate or sanitize input data from these file formats before attempting to write to memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under the category of buffer overflow conditions where insufficient bounds checking allows unauthorized memory modifications. The technical implementation likely involves improper handling of file structure parsing or data extraction routines that do not adequately verify array boundaries or memory allocation limits. According to CWE classification, this represents a weakness in the input validation process that leads to memory corruption, specifically CWE-121 for buffer overflow or CWE-125 for out-of-bounds read/write operations. The attack surface is primarily limited to users who open maliciously crafted DWF or PCT files through the DesignReview.exe application, which is commonly used for viewing Autodesk design files in enterprise environments. The operational impact extends beyond simple memory corruption as the vulnerability can potentially be leveraged for code execution within the context of the current process, making it particularly dangerous for targeted attacks. This vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203 by enabling malicious code execution through application exploitation, and T1059 for command and control through potential privilege escalation. The risk is elevated in enterprise settings where DesignReview.exe may be used to process design files from external sources or where users lack proper security awareness regarding file handling. Organizations using Autodesk Design Review software should consider immediate mitigation strategies including application whitelisting, restricted file access controls, and network segmentation to limit potential exploitation vectors. The vulnerability demonstrates a critical flaw in the software's input processing pipeline where proper validation mechanisms are absent or insufficiently implemented. Security teams should monitor for suspicious file access patterns and implement automated scanning of file attachments that may contain these specific file formats. The memory corruption aspect suggests that attackers could potentially manipulate heap structures or overwrite critical program variables, leading to arbitrary code execution. This represents a significant concern for organizations that rely on design review applications for collaborative engineering workflows where file sharing occurs across network boundaries. The exploitation potential increases when combined with other vulnerabilities that may exist in the same software ecosystem, creating opportunities for more sophisticated attack chains that could compromise entire systems or data repositories.
The vulnerability's exploitation requires a user to open a malicious file through the DesignReview.exe application, making social engineering attacks particularly effective. The write access violation indicates that the application's memory management routines are not properly safeguarded against malformed input data, suggesting a lack of proper exception handling or input sanitization. This type of vulnerability is particularly concerning because it operates at the application level without requiring elevated privileges, allowing attackers to execute malicious code within the context of the currently running process. The combination of memory corruption with potential code execution capabilities makes this vulnerability a prime target for advanced persistent threat actors who may seek to establish footholds within enterprise networks. Organizations should implement comprehensive patch management programs to address this vulnerability promptly, as the window for exploitation exists from the time of vulnerability disclosure until the patch is deployed across all affected systems. The impact is amplified in environments where multiple design review applications may be present, as attackers could potentially chain multiple vulnerabilities to achieve more significant compromise levels. Security monitoring should focus on unusual file processing activities and network communications that may indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability's nature suggests that proper input validation and memory management practices were either missing or inadequately implemented in the application's core file processing modules.