CVE-2025-14614 is a vulnerability classified under CWE-377 (Insecure Temporary File) found in the Altera Quartus Prime Standard and Lite installers (SFX) on Windows platforms, specifically versions from 23.1 through 24.1. The issue stems from the use of predictable temporary file names during the installation process, which can be explored and potentially manipulated by an attacker with local access. This vulnerability allows an attacker to interfere with the installation by replacing or tampering with temporary files, potentially leading to privilege escalation, code execution, or disruption of the installation process. The CVSS 4.0 vector indicates that the attack requires local access (AV:L), has high attack complexity (AC:H), requires privileges (PR:L), and user interaction (UI:A). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability at a high level, but the scope is limited to local systems without network exploitation. No patches are currently linked, and no known exploits have been reported in the wild. The vulnerability is particularly relevant for organizations relying on Quartus Prime for FPGA design and development, as compromised installations could lead to compromised development environments or supply chain risks.

For European organizations, especially those in semiconductor design, embedded systems, and electronics manufacturing, this vulnerability poses a risk to the integrity and security of FPGA development environments. Exploitation could allow attackers with local access to manipulate installation files, potentially injecting malicious code or disrupting the installation process, which may lead to compromised development tools or corrupted FPGA configurations. This can affect product quality, intellectual property confidentiality, and operational availability. Given the reliance on Quartus Prime in industries such as automotive, aerospace, and industrial automation, the impact could extend to critical infrastructure and safety-critical systems. The medium severity rating reflects the requirement for local access and user interaction, limiting remote exploitation but still posing a significant risk in environments with shared or insufficiently secured workstations.

Organizations should implement strict local access controls to limit who can execute or modify installation files for Quartus Prime. Use of least privilege principles to restrict user permissions on development machines is critical. Monitoring and auditing file system changes during installation can help detect tampering attempts. Until patches are released, consider deploying the software in isolated or virtualized environments to reduce risk. Educate users about the risks of running installers from untrusted sources or without verifying integrity. Once patches or updates become available from Altera (Intel), apply them promptly. Additionally, consider using application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions that can detect or block unauthorized file modifications during installation processes.