CVE-2024-47426 in Substance3D Painter
Summary
by MITRE • 11/12/2024
Substance3D - Painter versions 10.1.0 and earlier are affected by a Double Free vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution 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 • 02/27/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2024-47426 affects Substance3D Painter versions 10.1.0 and earlier, representing a critical double free vulnerability that poses significant security risks to users of this 3D modeling and texturing software. This issue resides within the application's memory management mechanisms, specifically in how it handles certain file parsing operations that could lead to remote code execution when a user opens a maliciously crafted file. The vulnerability operates through a classic heap corruption exploit pattern where the same memory block is freed twice, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate the program's execution flow and potentially gain arbitrary code execution privileges.
The technical flaw manifests when Substance3D Painter processes specially crafted files that trigger improper memory deallocation sequences during the parsing of specific data structures. This double free condition occurs within the application's internal memory management routines, where a pointer to allocated memory is freed twice without proper validation or re-allocation checks. The vulnerability requires user interaction to be exploited effectively, as victims must voluntarily open the malicious file, but once opened, the exploit can execute code with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. This makes the attack vector particularly concerning in environments where users may be enticed to open files from untrusted sources or where social engineering tactics could be employed to deliver the malicious payload.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it provides attackers with a potential foothold for more sophisticated attacks within the target environment. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to install malware, steal sensitive data, modify system configurations, or establish persistent access through the compromised Painter application. The vulnerability's presence in a widely used 3D design and texturing tool means that it could be leveraged in targeted attacks against creative professionals, game developers, or design studios where such software is prevalent. Additionally, the fact that the exploit requires user interaction creates a potential attack surface that could be amplified through phishing campaigns, malicious file sharing, or supply chain compromises where the malicious files might be disguised as legitimate design assets or project files.
Organizations and individual users should prioritize immediate remediation of this vulnerability by upgrading to Substance3D Painter version 10.1.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address the double free condition. System administrators should implement strict file validation policies and consider network-level controls to prevent unauthorized file transfers that could contain malicious payloads. Security teams should monitor for potential exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, as the vulnerability's exploitation would likely generate unusual memory allocation patterns or file access behaviors. The mitigation strategy should also include user education programs to raise awareness about the risks of opening untrusted files, particularly in creative workflows where such files are commonly exchanged between team members or shared through collaborative platforms. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-415 which describes improper double free conditions and represents a significant risk in the context of the ATT&CK framework under the Initial Access and Execution phases, potentially enabling attackers to establish persistent access through legitimate software applications.