CVE-2025-66342 in Affinity
Summary
by MITRE • 03/17/2026
A type confusion vulnerability exists in the EMF functionality of Canva Affinity. A specially crafted EMF file can trigger this vulnerability, which can lead to memory corruption and result in arbitrary code execution.
If you want to get best quality of vulnerability data, you may have to visit VulDB.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 03/21/2026
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-66342 represents a critical type confusion flaw within the Enhanced Metafile Format (EMF) processing capabilities of Canva Affinity software. This type confusion vulnerability arises from improper handling of data types during the parsing of EMF files, creating a condition where the application incorrectly interprets the data structure of maliciously crafted input. The flaw specifically manifests when the software attempts to process EMF files that contain malformed or unexpected data sequences, leading to unpredictable behavior in memory management operations.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability occurs through the manipulation of EMF file structures that are designed to be processed by the Windows graphics system. When Canva Affinity encounters a specially crafted EMF file, the application's parsing logic fails to properly validate the type information associated with various data elements within the file. This type confusion creates a scenario where memory pointers or data structures are treated as different types than their actual declarations, resulting in memory corruption that can be leveraged for arbitrary code execution. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because EMF files are commonly used for vector graphics and can be embedded in various document formats, making them a prevalent attack vector.
From an operational standpoint, this vulnerability poses significant risks to end users who may inadvertently open maliciously crafted EMF files through Canva Affinity's document processing capabilities. The attack surface extends beyond direct file manipulation to include email attachments, web downloads, and collaborative document sharing scenarios where EMF content might be embedded within larger files. The memory corruption resulting from type confusion can lead to application crashes, data loss, or more severely, full system compromise when attackers successfully execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the affected application. This vulnerability directly aligns with CWE-466, which specifically addresses the issue of improper handling of type confusion in software applications.
The impact of CVE-2025-66342 extends across multiple threat vectors within the cybersecurity landscape, particularly when considering the ATT&CK framework's techniques for exploitation. The vulnerability could be leveraged through initial access vectors such as spearphishing with malicious attachments, where EMF files serve as the delivery mechanism for malicious payloads. Once successfully exploited, the vulnerability enables privilege escalation and persistence techniques, as attackers can execute code within the context of the Affinity application and potentially escalate to system-level privileges. Security professionals should consider this vulnerability in the context of the ATT&CK technique T1059 for command and control through application execution, and T1068 for privilege escalation through local exploits.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-66342 should focus on immediate application updates from Canva, as the vendor is expected to provide patches that address the type confusion in EMF file parsing. Organizations should implement restrictive file handling policies that limit the processing of untrusted EMF files, particularly in environments where users may encounter suspicious content. Network-based mitigations could include filtering for EMF file types in email gateways and web proxies, while endpoint protection solutions should be configured to monitor for suspicious file processing activities. Additionally, users should be educated about the risks of opening untrusted files and the importance of keeping software updated. The vulnerability's classification as a memory corruption issue suggests that implementing address space layout randomization and data execution prevention mechanisms can provide additional layers of protection against exploitation attempts.