CVE-2025-13668 is a vulnerability identified in Altera's Quartus Prime Pro Edition version 17.0, categorized under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element). This vulnerability occurs when the software improperly manages the search path environment variable, allowing an attacker with low privileges to influence the path used by the application to locate executables or libraries. By inserting a malicious executable or library into a directory that is searched before the legitimate one, an attacker can cause the software to load and execute malicious code, leading to privilege escalation. The CVSS 4.0 base score is 5.4 (medium), reflecting the requirement for local access (AV:L), high attack complexity (AC:H), partial privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:A). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level (VC:H, VI:H, VA:H), indicating that successful exploitation could compromise system security significantly. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published by the vendor at the time of disclosure. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for environments where Quartus Prime Pro is used for FPGA design and embedded system development, as attackers could leverage this flaw to gain elevated privileges on development machines or build servers.

For European organizations, especially those involved in semiconductor design, embedded systems, and critical infrastructure relying on FPGA technology, this vulnerability poses a risk of unauthorized privilege escalation. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with elevated privileges, potentially leading to theft or manipulation of intellectual property, disruption of development workflows, or introduction of malicious modifications into hardware designs. The impact extends to confidentiality (exposure of sensitive design data), integrity (tampering with design files or build processes), and availability (disruption of development environments). Given the medium severity and the requirement for local access and user interaction, the threat is more pronounced in environments with less stringent endpoint security or where multiple users share development resources. The lack of current exploits reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Restrict local user permissions to minimize the ability of low-privilege users to modify environment variables or place executables in directories included in the search path. 2. Implement strict controls and monitoring on environment variables related to PATH and library search paths on systems running Quartus Prime Pro. 3. Use application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to detect and block unauthorized executables or libraries. 4. Isolate development environments and limit user interaction with critical build servers to trusted personnel only. 5. Regularly audit and harden system configurations to prevent unauthorized changes to search paths. 6. Monitor vendor communications closely and apply patches or updates promptly once available. 7. Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted files and the importance of maintaining secure environment configurations.