CVE-2025-7225 in HMITool
Summary
by MITRE • 07/21/2025
INVT HMITool VPM File Parsing Out-Of-Bounds Write Remote Code Execution Vulnerability. This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of INVT HMITool. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.
The specific flaw exists within the parsing of VPM files. The issue results from the lack of proper validation of user-supplied data, which can result in a write past the end of an allocated buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. Was ZDI-CAN-25047.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/29/2025
The CVE-2025-7225 vulnerability represents a critical out-of-bounds write flaw in INVT HMITool's VPM file parsing functionality that enables remote code execution. This vulnerability specifically affects installations of the INVT HMITool software where VPM files are processed, creating a significant security risk for industrial control systems and human machine interface environments. The vulnerability resides in the file parsing logic that fails to properly validate user-supplied data during VPM file processing, leading to memory corruption that can be exploited by remote attackers.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability stems from insufficient input validation within the VPM file parser component of the HMITool application. When processing maliciously crafted VPM files, the software does not adequately check buffer boundaries or validate the size of incoming data structures, resulting in an out-of-bounds write condition. This memory corruption occurs during the parsing phase when the application attempts to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer, potentially overwriting adjacent memory locations including function pointers or return addresses. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-787, which specifically addresses out-of-bounds write conditions in software implementations.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple remote code execution to encompass complete system compromise within industrial environments where INVT HMITool is deployed. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability through web-based attacks or by tricking users into opening malicious VPM files, requiring only a single user interaction to achieve successful exploitation. The remote code execution capability allows threat actors to gain full control of affected systems, potentially leading to industrial control system disruption, data exfiltration, or further lateral movement within network environments. This vulnerability particularly affects environments where HMITool is used for supervisory control and data acquisition systems, making it a significant concern for operational technology infrastructure.
Security mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-7225 should focus on immediate patching of affected INVT HMITool installations, implementing network segmentation to restrict access to vulnerable systems, and deploying application whitelisting policies to prevent execution of unauthorized VPM files. Organizations should also consider network monitoring solutions to detect suspicious file transfer activities and implement strict access controls for HMITool installations. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory safety practices in industrial control software, aligning with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for command and script interpreter execution. Additionally, organizations should conduct comprehensive vulnerability assessments of their industrial control systems to identify similar memory safety issues in other industrial software components, as this type of vulnerability is particularly prevalent in legacy industrial applications that may not have undergone modern security development lifecycle practices.