CVE-2024-20742 in Substance 3D Painter
Summary
by MITRE • 02/15/2024
Substance3D - Painter versions 9.1.1 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds read vulnerability when parsing a crafted file, which could result in a read past the end of an allocated memory structure. An attacker could leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must open a malicious file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/09/2026
The vulnerability in Substance3D Painter versions 9.1.1 and earlier represents a critical out-of-bounds read flaw that fundamentally compromises the application's memory management integrity. This issue stems from insufficient input validation during file parsing operations, specifically when processing maliciously crafted files that contain malformed data structures. The flaw manifests as an attempt to read memory beyond the boundaries of allocated buffers, creating a condition where the application accesses memory locations that may contain sensitive data or executable code segments. Such memory access violations typically occur when the parser fails to properly validate array indices or buffer limits before performing read operations, leading to unpredictable behavior and potential exploitation opportunities.
The technical execution of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a specially designed file that triggers the out-of-bounds read condition during the parsing phase. When a victim opens this malicious file within the vulnerable Painter application, the flawed parsing logic causes the program to attempt reading beyond its allocated memory structures. This memory corruption can result in information disclosure, application instability, or more critically, arbitrary code execution within the context of the currently logged-in user. The vulnerability's exploitation necessitates user interaction, meaning that social engineering or phishing techniques would be required to deliver the malicious file to a target. This user interaction requirement provides a potential defense mechanism but does not eliminate the risk entirely, as users may inadvertently open compromised files.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, potentially enabling attackers to escalate privileges or execute malicious payloads with the same permissions as the affected user. The out-of-bounds read condition creates a pathway for attackers to manipulate the application's execution flow, potentially allowing them to inject and execute arbitrary code. This type of vulnerability falls under the common weakness enumeration CWE-125, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds read conditions in software applications. The attack surface is particularly concerning given that Substance3D Painter is widely used in creative workflows where users frequently open files from various sources, including collaborative environments and third-party content providers. The vulnerability's presence in the parsing component means that even legitimate files could be compromised if they contain maliciously crafted elements, making the attack vector more insidious.
Security mitigations for this vulnerability primarily focus on immediate remediation through software updates and patches provided by the vendor. Users should prioritize updating to Substance3D Painter version 9.1.2 or later, which contains the necessary fixes to address the memory boundary checking issues. Organizations should implement strict file validation procedures and consider sandboxing environments for handling untrusted files, particularly in collaborative design workflows where file sharing is common. Additionally, security awareness training should emphasize the importance of verifying file sources and avoiding opening suspicious files from unknown origins. The vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation and code execution. Network-based controls such as intrusion detection systems can help monitor for potential exploitation attempts, though the user interaction requirement makes this approach less effective than direct patch management. Regular security assessments of creative software environments should include vulnerability scanning for similar parsing flaws that could affect other design tools in the same ecosystem.