CVE-2023-2763 in SolidWorks
Summary
by MITRE • 07/12/2023
Use-After-Free, Out-of-bounds Write and Heap-based Buffer Overflow vulnerabilities exist in the DWG and DXF file reading procedure in SOLIDWORKS Desktop from Release SOLIDWORKS 2021 through Release SOLIDWORKS 2023. These vulnerabilities could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code while opening a specially crafted DWG or DXF file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 04/25/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2023-2763 represents a critical security flaw affecting SOLIDWORKS Desktop software across versions 2021 through 2023. This issue manifests within the file parsing mechanisms that handle DWG and DXF format files, which are widely used in computer-aided design and engineering environments. The affected software components process these vector graphics files through dedicated reading procedures that fail to properly validate input data, creating exploitable conditions that could be leveraged by malicious actors. The vulnerability landscape is particularly concerning given the widespread adoption of SOLIDWORKS in industrial design and manufacturing sectors where these files are routinely exchanged and processed.
The technical root cause of this vulnerability stems from improper memory management practices during file parsing operations. Specifically, the use-after-free condition occurs when the software attempts to access memory locations that have already been freed, while out-of-bounds write operations happen when the application writes data beyond allocated memory buffers. Additionally, heap-based buffer overflows manifest when the program writes more data to a heap-allocated buffer than it can accommodate. These memory corruption vulnerabilities are classified under CWE-416 for use-after-free, CWE-121 for stack-based buffer overflow, and CWE-787 for out-of-bounds write conditions. The combination of these flaws creates a particularly dangerous attack surface where a single malformed file could trigger multiple memory corruption scenarios simultaneously.
The operational impact of CVE-2023-2763 extends beyond simple code execution capabilities, as it provides attackers with potential persistence mechanisms within engineering and design environments. When an unsuspecting user opens a maliciously crafted DWG or DXF file, the vulnerability could enable arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the victim user, potentially leading to complete system compromise. This threat is exacerbated by the nature of design environments where files are frequently shared between multiple stakeholders, making social engineering attacks through infected design files particularly effective. The vulnerability's exploitation could result in data theft, system infiltration, intellectual property compromise, and disruption of critical engineering workflows that rely on SOLIDWORKS for product development and design validation.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability should encompass multiple layers of defense to protect against exploitation attempts. Organizations should immediately apply the vendor-provided patches and updates released to address the memory corruption issues in the file reading procedures. Network segmentation and file validation controls should be implemented to prevent unauthorized file execution, particularly in high-value engineering environments where design files are exchanged. Security awareness training for design team members should emphasize the dangers of opening untrusted design files, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious file access patterns and memory manipulation activities. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter and T1203 for Exploitation for Client Execution, highlighting the need for both preventive and detection-focused security measures. Regular security assessments of design environments and file handling procedures should be conducted to identify and remediate similar vulnerabilities that may exist in other software components used within engineering workflows.