CVE-2025-13665 is a DLL planting vulnerability categorized under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element) affecting the System Console Utility component of Altera Quartus Prime Standard version 17.0 on Windows platforms. DLL planting occurs when an application loads a DLL without specifying a fully qualified path, allowing an attacker to place a malicious DLL in a location that the application searches before the legitimate DLL. This vulnerability enables an attacker with low privileges to execute arbitrary code by tricking the application into loading a malicious DLL. The attack complexity is high, requiring some user interaction and local access, but does not require elevated privileges. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability by potentially allowing code execution within the context of the vulnerable application. No patches or known exploits are currently available, but the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and assigned a CVSS 4.0 base score of 5.4, reflecting medium severity. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations using Quartus Prime Standard 17.0 in their hardware design workflows, especially those in semiconductor and electronics manufacturing sectors. The lack of a patch necessitates immediate mitigation through configuration changes and monitoring until an official fix is released.

For European organizations, especially those involved in semiconductor design, electronics manufacturing, and embedded systems development, this vulnerability poses a risk of local privilege escalation and arbitrary code execution. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized access to sensitive design files, intellectual property theft, or disruption of critical design workflows. The impact on confidentiality is significant due to potential exposure of proprietary data. Integrity could be compromised if malicious code alters design outputs or configuration files. Availability may be affected if the System Console Utility is destabilized or manipulated to disrupt operations. Given the specialized nature of the affected software, the threat is more acute for organizations relying on Altera Quartus Prime Standard 17.0, which is widely used in European countries with strong semiconductor industries. The medium severity rating suggests a moderate but non-trivial risk, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation to prevent exploitation.

1. Restrict DLL search paths by configuring the System Console Utility and Windows environment to use fully qualified DLL paths where possible. 2. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized DLLs from loading within the Quartus Prime environment. 3. Enforce the principle of least privilege by limiting user permissions, especially for users running the System Console Utility. 4. Monitor file system and process activity for unusual DLL loading behavior or unexpected modifications in directories searched by the application. 5. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted files or links that could trigger the vulnerability. 6. Regularly check for and apply vendor patches or updates once available. 7. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect suspicious DLL injection or planting attempts. 8. Isolate critical design workstations to reduce exposure to local attack vectors. 9. Review and harden Windows DLL search order settings, including disabling unsafe DLL search modes if applicable. 10. Maintain an inventory of affected software versions and prioritize upgrades or mitigations accordingly.