CVE-2025-10203 is a high-severity relative path traversal vulnerability (CWE-23) found in Digilent WaveForms software versions 3.24.3 and earlier. WaveForms is a widely used application for interfacing with Digilent's test and measurement hardware devices, commonly employed in electronics design, testing, and education. The vulnerability arises from improper input validation when processing .DWF3WORK project files. An attacker can craft a malicious .DWF3WORK file containing relative path traversal sequences (e.g., "../") that cause the software to access or overwrite arbitrary files on the victim's filesystem when the file is opened. This can lead to arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the user running WaveForms. Exploitation requires user interaction, specifically opening the malicious file, and no prior authentication or elevated privileges are needed. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, combined with low attack complexity and no privileges required. Although no public exploits have been reported yet, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for remote code execution and system compromise. The lack of an available patch at the time of publication increases exposure. Given WaveForms' role in hardware testing and development environments, successful exploitation could disrupt critical engineering workflows or lead to intellectual property theft.

For European organizations, particularly those in electronics manufacturing, research institutions, and educational facilities using Digilent WaveForms, this vulnerability could result in severe operational disruptions. Attackers exploiting this flaw could execute arbitrary code, potentially implanting malware, stealing sensitive design data, or sabotaging hardware testing processes. This could lead to intellectual property loss, compromised product integrity, and downtime in development cycles. Additionally, organizations involved in critical infrastructure sectors that rely on precise hardware testing may face risks to system availability and safety. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to deliver the malicious .DWF3WORK files, increasing the attack surface. Given the high confidentiality and integrity impact, European companies must treat this vulnerability seriously to avoid reputational damage and regulatory consequences under GDPR if personal or sensitive data is exposed.

Organizations should immediately implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict the opening of .DWF3WORK files to trusted sources only; implement strict policies and user training to recognize and avoid suspicious files. 2) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit WaveForms' file system access, preventing unauthorized file writes or reads outside designated directories. 3) Monitor and filter inbound emails and file transfers for malicious .DWF3WORK files using advanced threat detection tools. 4) Isolate systems running WaveForms from critical network segments to contain potential compromise. 5) Regularly back up important project files and system states to enable recovery in case of exploitation. 6) Engage with Digilent for timely updates or patches and apply them as soon as available. 7) Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify suspicious behaviors related to file access and code execution within WaveForms. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice by focusing on the specific attack vector and operational context of WaveForms usage.