CVE-2026-23719 in Simcenter Femap
Summary
by MITRE • 02/10/2026
A vulnerability has been identified in Simcenter Femap (All versions < V2512), Simcenter Nastran (All versions < V2512). The affected application is vulnerable to heap-based buffer overflow while parsing specially crafted NDB files. This could allow an attacker to execute code in the context of the current process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 02/12/2026
This vulnerability exists in Siemens Simcenter Femap and Simcenter Nastran software versions prior to V2512, representing a critical heap-based buffer overflow condition that occurs during the parsing of specially crafted NDB files. The flaw arises from insufficient bounds checking within the file parsing routine, allowing an attacker to craft malicious NDB input that exceeds the allocated heap buffer size. This type of vulnerability falls under CWE-122, which specifically addresses heap-based buffer overflow conditions where insufficient validation permits data to be written beyond the boundaries of allocated memory regions. The vulnerability demonstrates characteristics consistent with CWE-787, which covers out-of-bounds write vulnerabilities that can lead to arbitrary code execution.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability exploits the memory management practices within the NDB file parser, where the application fails to validate the size of incoming data structures before attempting to copy them into fixed-size heap buffers. When an attacker supplies a maliciously formatted NDB file containing oversized data fields, the parsing function performs a memcpy or similar operation without proper boundary validation, resulting in memory corruption that can overwrite adjacent heap metadata or code segments. This memory corruption creates opportunities for attackers to manipulate the program execution flow through return-oriented programming or function pointer overwrites, potentially leading to complete system compromise.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple code execution, as it represents a significant threat to engineering and simulation environments where these applications are commonly deployed. Attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain unauthorized access to sensitive engineering data, disrupt simulation workflows, or establish persistent access points within enterprise networks. The attack surface is particularly concerning in environments where these applications process third-party simulation data, as the vulnerability could be exploited through social engineering or supply chain attacks. From an adversarial perspective, this vulnerability aligns with ATT&CK technique T1203, which covers exploitation of software vulnerabilities for privilege escalation, and T1059, which involves the execution of malicious code through compromised applications.
Organizations should immediately implement mitigations including the deployment of the vendor-provided security patches for Simcenter Femap and Simcenter Nastran versions prior to V2512, as well as implementing network segmentation to limit access to these applications. Additionally, implementing application whitelisting policies and restricting user privileges for these applications can significantly reduce the attack surface. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of input validation and memory safety practices in engineering software, highlighting how even specialized applications require robust security measures. Security teams should monitor for exploitation attempts through network traffic analysis and endpoint detection systems, as the buffer overflow may manifest through unusual memory allocation patterns or process behavior anomalies. Regular security assessments of engineering environments should include evaluation of third-party software dependencies and their vulnerability status to prevent similar issues from compromising critical simulation infrastructure.