CVE-2022-42940 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability affecting multiple legacy versions of Autodesk Design Review (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, specifically a heap-based buffer overflow or similar memory safety issue (CWE-787). While the vulnerability alone may not directly lead to remote code execution, it can be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user process. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 reflects a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary (opening the malicious TGA file). Autodesk Design Review is a widely used tool for viewing and annotating 2D and 3D design files, particularly in engineering, architecture, and manufacturing sectors. The affected versions are older and may still be in use in organizations that rely on legacy workflows or have not upgraded to newer software. No official patches or updates have been linked in the provided data, indicating that affected users may remain vulnerable if they continue to use these versions. The absence of known exploits in the wild suggests limited active exploitation currently, but the potential for exploitation remains, especially in targeted attacks or combined with other vulnerabilities to escalate impact.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2022-42940 could be significant, particularly in industries such as manufacturing, engineering, construction, and design services where Autodesk Design Review is commonly used. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, allowing attackers to compromise the confidentiality and integrity of sensitive design documents and intellectual property. This could result in theft of proprietary designs, sabotage of project files, or disruption of business operations. Additionally, since the vulnerability affects older software versions, organizations with legacy systems or insufficient patch management practices are at higher risk. The need for user interaction (opening a malicious TGA file) means that phishing or social engineering could be vectors for exploitation, potentially targeting employees who handle design files. The compromise of design review workstations could serve as a foothold for lateral movement within corporate networks, increasing the risk of broader enterprise compromise. Given the high confidentiality and integrity impact, this vulnerability poses a material risk to European organizations that rely on Autodesk Design Review for critical design workflows.

1. Upgrade: The most effective mitigation is to upgrade to the latest supported version of Autodesk Design Review or switch to alternative, actively maintained design review tools that do not have this vulnerability. 2. Restrict File Handling: Implement strict controls on the receipt and opening of TGA files, including blocking or quarantining TGA files from untrusted sources via email gateways and endpoint security solutions. 3. User Awareness: Train users, especially those in design and engineering roles, to recognize suspicious files and avoid opening unexpected or unsolicited TGA files. 4. Application Whitelisting: Use application control policies to restrict execution of DesignReview.exe to trusted environments and prevent execution of unauthorized or modified versions. 5. Network Segmentation: Isolate systems running Autodesk Design Review from critical network segments to limit potential lateral movement if compromised. 6. Monitoring and Detection: Deploy endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for anomalous behavior related to DesignReview.exe, such as unexpected memory access patterns or process injections. 7. Legacy Software Management: Conduct an inventory of all Autodesk Design Review installations and prioritize remediation on unsupported or outdated versions. 8. Incident Response Preparedness: Prepare incident response plans that include scenarios involving exploitation of design software vulnerabilities to ensure rapid containment and recovery.