CVE-2022-42941 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability found in Autodesk Design Review versions 2011, 2012, 2013, 2017, and 2018. The vulnerability arises when the application processes maliciously crafted DWF or .PCT files, leading to a read access violation that causes memory corruption. This is classified under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write), indicating that the application improperly handles memory boundaries during file parsing. While the immediate consequence is memory corruption, this vulnerability can be chained with other vulnerabilities to achieve arbitrary code execution within the context of the DesignReview.exe process. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high severity, with attack vector being local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is rated high, meaning successful exploitation could lead to full compromise of the affected process, potentially allowing attackers to execute malicious code, steal sensitive design data, or disrupt operations. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches are linked, which suggests that affected organizations must rely on other mitigation strategies until updates are available. The vulnerability affects multiple legacy versions of Autodesk Design Review, a tool commonly used for viewing and reviewing design files, particularly in engineering, architecture, and manufacturing sectors.

For European organizations, especially those in engineering, architecture, manufacturing, and construction industries, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Autodesk Design Review is widely used for collaborative design review processes, and exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, data theft, or disruption of critical workflows. Given the high confidentiality and integrity impact, intellectual property and sensitive design documents could be exposed or altered. The requirement for local access and user interaction means that attackers would need to convince users to open malicious files, which could be delivered via phishing or insider threats. In regulated sectors such as aerospace, automotive, and infrastructure within Europe, such a compromise could lead to compliance violations under GDPR and industry-specific regulations, resulting in legal and financial repercussions. Additionally, disruption of design review processes could delay projects and impact supply chains. The lack of patches increases the urgency for organizations to implement compensating controls to mitigate risk.

European organizations should implement several targeted mitigation strategies: 1) Restrict usage of Autodesk Design Review to trusted users and environments, limiting exposure to untrusted files. 2) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing to isolate DesignReview.exe, reducing the impact of potential exploitation. 3) Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or unverified DWF and .PCT files, emphasizing phishing awareness and safe file handling practices. 4) Monitor and control file sharing channels to prevent distribution of maliciously crafted files. 5) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect anomalous behavior related to DesignReview.exe processes. 6) Where possible, upgrade to newer versions of Autodesk Design Review or alternative tools that do not contain this vulnerability, even if official patches are unavailable. 7) Implement strict network segmentation to limit lateral movement if exploitation occurs. 8) Regularly audit and review logs for suspicious activity related to file access and application execution. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, environment hardening, and proactive monitoring tailored to this specific vulnerability and its exploitation vector.