CVE-2025-9449 in SOLIDWORKS eDrawings
Summary
by MITRE • 09/17/2025
A Use After Free vulnerability affecting the PAR file reading procedure in SOLIDWORKS eDrawings on Release SOLIDWORKS Desktop 2025 could allow an attacker to execute arbitrary code while opening a specially crafted PAR file.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 09/17/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-9449 represents a critical use after free flaw within the PAR file parsing functionality of SOLIDWORKS eDrawings software. This issue specifically manifests in the desktop release version 2025 of the SOLIDWORKS Desktop suite, where the application fails to properly manage memory resources when processing specially crafted PAR files. The flaw occurs during the file reading procedure, creating a scenario where memory previously allocated to a program object is accessed after it has been freed, potentially leading to unpredictable behavior and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability leverages the fundamental memory management weakness inherent in the PAR file parsing routine. When a maliciously crafted PAR file is opened, the eDrawings application processes the file structure in a manner that causes the program to free memory associated with certain data structures while simultaneously attempting to reference that same memory location. This creates a race condition where an attacker can manipulate the freed memory to inject and execute arbitrary code within the context of the running application. The vulnerability falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free conditions, which are particularly dangerous because they can be exploited to achieve remote code execution through carefully constructed input data.
From an operational perspective, this vulnerability presents significant risks to organizations relying on SOLIDWORKS eDrawings for design and engineering workflows. The attack surface is broad as PAR files are commonly shared in engineering environments, making them potential vectors for exploitation. An attacker could craft a malicious PAR file and deliver it through email attachments, shared network drives, or other common file sharing mechanisms. The successful exploitation would allow an attacker to execute code with the privileges of the eDrawings application, potentially leading to full system compromise, data exfiltration, or the establishment of persistent backdoors within the organization's engineering infrastructure.
The impact of CVE-2025-9449 aligns with ATT&CK framework technique T1059.007 for command and scripting interpreter, as successful exploitation would enable adversaries to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. Organizations should consider implementing multiple layers of defense including email filtering to block suspicious attachments, network monitoring for unusual file access patterns, and regular security awareness training for engineering teams who frequently handle design files. Additionally, the vulnerability demonstrates the importance of proper input validation and memory management practices in commercial software applications, particularly those handling complex file formats in engineering environments. Immediate mitigation strategies should include applying vendor patches upon release, implementing application whitelisting to restrict execution of untrusted PAR files, and conducting security assessments of existing PAR file repositories to identify and remove potentially malicious content.