CVE-2026-7455 in 3ds Max
Summary
by MITRE • 08/24/2026
A maliciously crafted FLT file, when parsed through Autodesk 3ds Max, can force an Out-of-Bounds Write vulnerability. A malicious actor may leverage this vulnerability to cause a crash, cause data corruption, or execute arbitrary code in the context of the current process.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/24/2026
The vulnerability identified involves a critical memory safety flaw within Autodesk 3ds Max when processing specifically crafted FLT files, which are commonly used for rendering and visualization workflows. This issue manifests as an out-of-bounds write condition during the parsing phase of the file format. The root cause lies in insufficient validation of input data structures before they are written to allocated memory regions. When a malicious actor constructs an FLT file with malformed or excessively large parameters, the application fails to correctly bound-check array indices or buffer sizes, leading to writes beyond the intended memory boundaries. This type of flaw is characteristic of improper limit enforcement mechanisms where the software assumes valid input without rigorous verification against predefined constraints.
From a technical perspective, this vulnerability aligns closely with CWE-787, which classifies out-of-bounds write errors as high-severity issues due to their potential for arbitrary code execution. The exploitation vector typically involves tricking a user into opening or importing the malicious file within the 3ds Max environment. Once triggered, the application attempts to write data at memory addresses that are either unmapped or belong to other processes or security-critical structures such as function pointers and exception handlers. This overwriting capability allows an attacker to manipulate program control flow, potentially achieving remote code execution with the privileges of the currently logged-in user. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this behavior under techniques related to memory corruption exploitation, specifically highlighting how attackers leverage software bugs to bypass security controls like Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR).
The operational impact of this vulnerability is severe, encompassing both denial of service and privilege escalation scenarios. In the most benign case, an attacker can cause a crash by corrupting critical memory structures, leading to application instability and loss of unsaved work for designers or 3D artists relying on Autodesk products. However, in more sophisticated attacks, the ability to write arbitrary data to specific memory locations enables the execution of shellcode or other malicious payloads. This effectively grants the attacker full control over the victim's system within the context of the application process. Given that professional users often run such applications with elevated privileges or integrated into larger enterprise workflows, the potential for lateral movement and further compromise increases significantly if this vulnerability is exploited in a networked environment where shared project files are common.
Mitigation strategies must address both immediate remediation and long-term security hygiene. Autodesk should prioritize releasing patches that enforce strict bounds checking on all input data parsed from FLT files, ensuring that buffer sizes are validated against allocated memory limits before any write operations occur. Developers should also implement safe string handling functions and utilize modern compiler features such as stack canaries or Control Flow Guard to mitigate exploitation attempts even if a vulnerability exists. For end-users, the primary defense involves avoiding opening untrusted or suspiciously named files from unknown sources. Organizations should restrict the execution of 3ds Max in sandboxed environments where possible and ensure that all software updates are applied promptly upon release. Additionally, deploying endpoint detection and response solutions capable of monitoring for anomalous memory access patterns can help detect exploitation attempts in real-time, providing an additional layer of defense against this class of vulnerabilities.