CVE-2022-42936 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
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2022-42936 represents a critical memory corruption flaw within the DesignReview.exe application that processes Autodesk DWF and PCT file formats. This issue stems from inadequate input validation and memory management when handling maliciously crafted binary files, creating a pathway for remote code execution attacks. The vulnerability specifically manifests as a write access violation during file processing, indicating that the application fails to properly validate buffer boundaries when parsing these proprietary file formats.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of file headers and structure within DWF or PCT files, which are commonly used for document sharing and design review in engineering and architectural environments. When DesignReview.exe attempts to parse these malformed files, it encounters memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical memory locations. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-121, which describes stack-based buffer overflow conditions, and more specifically aligns with CWE-122, heap-based buffer overflow scenarios, given the nature of memory corruption during file processing operations. The vulnerability enables attackers to manipulate memory layout and potentially execute arbitrary code within the application's security context.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risk to organizations that rely on DesignReview.exe for document processing, particularly in environments where users may receive design files from external sources or untrusted parties. The attack vector is particularly concerning as it requires no user interaction beyond opening the malicious file, making it susceptible to phishing campaigns or automated exploitation through compromised web services. The memory corruption vulnerability can be combined with other exploits to achieve privilege escalation or persistent access, as documented in the ATT&CK framework under technique T1059 for command and script interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation.
The impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution as it can be leveraged to bypass security controls within the application's execution environment. Attackers can potentially use this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, escalate privileges, or exfiltrate sensitive design data from engineering environments. The attack surface is particularly wide given that DWF and PCT files are commonly shared across organizations and can be embedded in various document formats. Mitigation strategies should include immediate deployment of vendor patches, implementation of strict file validation procedures, network segmentation to limit access to DesignReview.exe, and user education regarding suspicious file attachments. Additionally, organizations should consider implementing application whitelisting controls to restrict execution of DesignReview.exe to trusted environments and regularly monitor for anomalous file processing activities that may indicate exploitation attempts.