CVE-2025-57776 in DASYLab
Summary
by MITRE • 09/02/2025
There is an out of bounds write vulnerability due to improper bounds checking resulting in an invalid address when parsing a DSB file with Digilent DASYLab. This vulnerability may result in arbitrary code execution. Successful exploitation requires an attacker to get a user to open a specially crafted DSB file. The vulnerability affects all versions of DASYLab.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/02/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write condition that exists within Digilent DASYLab's DSB file parsing functionality. The flaw stems from inadequate bounds checking mechanisms that fail to properly validate the size and structure of data elements within the DSB file format. When the application processes a maliciously crafted DSB file, it attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory boundaries, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by attackers. The vulnerability is classified as a direct result of improper input validation and memory management practices that violate fundamental security principles. This type of vulnerability commonly falls under CWE-787: Out-of-bounds Write, which is categorized as a critical weakness in software security. The issue affects all versions of DASYLab, indicating a fundamental flaw in the application's architecture that has not been addressed through version updates or patches.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple memory corruption, as it creates a pathway for arbitrary code execution within the context of the user's session. An attacker who successfully crafts a malicious DSB file can potentially execute code with the privileges of the victim user, which could lead to complete system compromise. This attack vector requires social engineering to trick users into opening the malicious file, but once executed, the consequences can be severe given the privilege escalation potential. The vulnerability's exploitation pathway aligns with ATT&CK technique T1204.002: User Execution: Malicious File, where adversaries leverage user interaction to deliver malicious payloads. The fact that this affects all versions suggests that the underlying codebase has not been updated to include proper bounds checking mechanisms, making the entire user base susceptible to this attack.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability involves crafting a DSB file that contains malformed data structures designed to trigger the out-of-bounds write condition. When DASYLab attempts to parse this file, the application's memory management fails to properly handle the oversized data elements, causing memory corruption that can be leveraged to overwrite critical program execution pointers or return addresses. This memory corruption creates an opportunity for attackers to redirect program execution flow and inject malicious code into the running process. The vulnerability's presence in all versions indicates that the application's file parsing routines lack proper input sanitization and validation checks that should be implemented as part of secure coding practices. The attack surface is limited to users who open DSB files, but given the widespread use of DASYLab in engineering and educational environments, the potential impact is significant across multiple user groups. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including user education about opening unknown files, network-based restrictions on DSB file handling, and consideration of alternative file formats or parsing libraries that have been properly validated for security.
The vulnerability demonstrates a classic example of how insufficient input validation can lead to severe security consequences in applications that process external data formats. Proper implementation of bounds checking and memory validation would prevent the out-of-bounds write condition from occurring, thereby eliminating the potential for arbitrary code execution. This flaw represents a failure in the application's defensive programming practices and highlights the importance of following secure coding guidelines. The lack of version-specific fixes suggests that the vendor may not have prioritized this vulnerability or that the fix implementation was not comprehensive enough to address all potential attack vectors within the application's file processing pipeline. Security researchers should monitor for additional related vulnerabilities that might stem from similar parsing routines within the DASYLab application suite, as this type of memory corruption vulnerability often indicates broader architectural issues that could affect other components of the software ecosystem.