CVE-2025-11464 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt version 1204.97, specifically within the parsing of CO files. The vulnerability stems from insufficient validation of the length of user-supplied data before copying it into a heap-allocated buffer. This lack of proper bounds checking allows an attacker to overflow the buffer, corrupting adjacent memory and enabling arbitrary code execution within the context of the application process. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a maliciously crafted CO file or visiting a web page that triggers the vulnerable parser. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-122 (Heap-based Buffer Overflow) and carries a CVSS v3.0 score of 7.8, indicating high severity. The attack vector is local (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requires user interaction (UI:R). The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H), meaning successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise or data breaches. Although no public exploits are known at this time, the vulnerability was published by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) and is recognized as a significant threat to users of Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt, a CAD/design software product. No patches have been released yet, increasing the urgency for defensive measures.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-11464 can be substantial, particularly for those in sectors relying heavily on Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt for CAD and design workflows, such as manufacturing, engineering, and product design. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to theft of intellectual property, disruption of design processes, and compromise of sensitive project data. This could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and operational downtime. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious CO files. Given the high confidentiality and integrity impact, attackers could implant persistent backdoors or manipulate design files, affecting product quality and safety. The availability impact also suggests potential denial of service or system crashes, further disrupting business operations. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces may face increased risk if users open malicious files outside secure network environments.

1. Implement strict file handling policies: restrict opening CO files from untrusted sources and educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited files. 2. Employ network and endpoint security solutions capable of detecting and blocking malicious file payloads, including sandboxing suspicious CO files before allowing them to be opened. 3. Monitor user activity for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process launches or memory anomalies related to Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt. 4. Use application whitelisting and privilege restrictions to limit the impact of potential code execution within the application context. 5. Maintain up-to-date backups of critical design files to enable recovery in case of compromise. 6. Coordinate with Ashlar-Vellum for timely patch deployment once available; consider temporary mitigations such as disabling CO file parsing features if feasible. 7. Conduct targeted phishing awareness training emphasizing the risks of opening files from unknown or suspicious sources. 8. Review and harden endpoint security configurations, including Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR), to mitigate exploitation success.