CVE-2022-42938 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability identified in Autodesk Design Review, specifically affecting versions 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018. The vulnerability arises when the application processes a specially crafted TGA (Targa) image file. This malformed input can trigger memory corruption, classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), which can destabilize the application’s memory management. While the vulnerability alone does not guarantee remote code execution, it can be leveraged in combination with other vulnerabilities to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the current process. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring low privileges (PR:L), and no user interaction (UI:N). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high, indicating that exploitation could lead to full compromise of the affected application’s process. No known public exploits have been reported in the wild as of the publication date (October 21, 2022), and no official patches or mitigations have been linked or released by Autodesk at this time. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where Autodesk Design Review is used to open or process TGA files, which may be common in engineering, architecture, and design sectors. Given the local attack vector, exploitation requires that an attacker have some level of access to the system to deliver the malicious TGA file and trigger the vulnerability.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-42938 can be significant, especially in industries relying heavily on Autodesk Design Review for reviewing and annotating design documents, such as manufacturing, construction, automotive, aerospace, and engineering firms. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data theft, disruption of design workflows, or deployment of further malware within the corporate network. Since the vulnerability requires local access and low privileges, insider threats or attackers who have gained initial footholds via other means could leverage this vulnerability to escalate privileges or move laterally. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means sensitive intellectual property and design data could be compromised or corrupted, resulting in financial loss and reputational damage. Additionally, disruption of design review processes could delay project timelines. The lack of available patches increases the risk window for affected organizations until mitigations or updates are provided.

Given the absence of official patches, European organizations should implement specific mitigations beyond generic advice: 1) Restrict access to systems running Autodesk Design Review to trusted users only, minimizing the risk of malicious file introduction. 2) Implement strict file validation and scanning policies for all incoming design files, particularly TGA files, using advanced endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting malformed or suspicious image files. 3) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential exploitation by isolating Autodesk Design Review processes. 4) Monitor and audit usage of Design Review to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected crashes or abnormal process activity. 5) Educate users on the risks of opening untrusted or unsolicited design files, emphasizing caution with TGA files from unknown sources. 6) Consider upgrading to newer versions of Autodesk Design Review if available, or alternative software solutions that do not exhibit this vulnerability. 7) Maintain robust endpoint detection and response (EDR) capabilities to quickly identify and respond to exploitation attempts.