CVE-2026-16781 in 3ds Max
Summary
by MITRE • 08/25/2026
A maliciously crafted SVG file, when parsed through Autodesk 3ds Max, can trigger an Uncontrolled Recursion vulnerability. A malicious actor may leverage this vulnerability to cause the application to terminate unexpectedly, resulting in a denial-of-service.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/25/2026
The vulnerability identified involves a critical flaw within the parsing logic of Autodesk 3ds Max when processing Scalable Vector Graphics files. Specifically, the software fails to adequately validate or limit the depth of recursive operations triggered by certain structural elements within an SVG file. This uncontrolled recursion occurs because the application does not implement sufficient safeguards against deeply nested or circular references in the vector data structure. When a maliciously crafted SVG is loaded, the parser enters an infinite loop as it attempts to resolve these complex relationships without checking for depth limits or cycle detection mechanisms.
From a technical perspective, this flaw represents a classic instance of uncontrolled resource consumption due to recursive processing errors. The lack of proper boundary checks allows the call stack to expand rapidly until system memory resources are exhausted. This behavior aligns with Common Weakness Enumeration category CWE-675, which describes operations that do not limit recursion depth or iteration counts appropriately. Furthermore, this vulnerability can be mapped to MITRE ATT&CK technique T1499, specifically Endpoint Denial of Service via resource exhaustion, as the primary outcome is the destabilization and termination of the target application rather than arbitrary code execution.
The operational impact of exploiting this flaw is primarily a denial-of-service condition for users working with Autodesk 3ds Max. When the vulnerability is triggered, the application becomes unresponsive or crashes unexpectedly due to stack overflow conditions. This results in significant data loss if unsaved work is present and disrupts workflow continuity for professionals relying on the software for complex modeling tasks. While there is no immediate indication that this flaw allows for remote code execution, the instability it introduces poses a severe risk to productivity and potential secondary vulnerabilities if memory corruption occurs during the crash sequence.
To mitigate this vulnerability, users should ensure they are running the latest version of Autodesk 3ds Max where such parsing logic has likely been hardened with proper recursion limits and input validation checks. Additionally, organizations should implement strict file intake policies that restrict or scan SVG files from untrusted sources before opening them in design applications. Security awareness training for staff regarding the risks associated with vector graphics formats can further reduce exposure to this type of attack vector by preventing the loading of potentially malicious assets into production environments.