CVE-2025-5036 is a high-severity Use-After-Free (UAF) vulnerability identified in Autodesk Revit versions 2023 through 2026. The vulnerability arises when a maliciously crafted RFA (Revit Family) file is linked or imported into the Revit software. This specially crafted file triggers a UAF condition, which occurs when the program continues to use memory after it has been freed. Exploiting this flaw allows an attacker to cause a crash (denial of service), read sensitive data from memory, or execute arbitrary code within the context of the current Revit process. The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), meaning the victim must open or import the malicious RFA file. The attack vector is local (AV:L), indicating that the attacker needs access to the victim's system or network to deliver the malicious file. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use-After-Free), a common memory corruption issue that can lead to serious exploitation outcomes. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches are listed yet, suggesting that organizations should prioritize monitoring and mitigation. Autodesk Revit is widely used in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries for Building Information Modeling (BIM), making this vulnerability particularly critical for organizations relying on Revit for design and project collaboration. Attackers could leverage this flaw to disrupt workflows, steal intellectual property, or gain footholds in corporate networks through code execution.

For European organizations, especially those in the AEC sector, this vulnerability poses significant risks. Successful exploitation could lead to operational disruptions due to application crashes, loss or exposure of sensitive design data, and potential compromise of corporate networks if arbitrary code execution is achieved. Intellectual property theft is a major concern, as BIM files contain detailed architectural and engineering designs. Given the collaborative nature of Revit projects, a compromised system could serve as a pivot point for lateral movement within an organization. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious RFA files. The impact extends beyond individual users to potentially affect project timelines, contractual obligations, and regulatory compliance related to data protection (e.g., GDPR). The high confidentiality and integrity impact could damage client trust and lead to financial losses. Additionally, disruption in critical infrastructure projects or public sector construction initiatives in Europe could have broader societal implications.

European organizations should implement targeted mitigations beyond generic advice: 1) Enforce strict file validation and sandboxing for imported RFA files to detect and block malformed or suspicious content before it reaches Revit. 2) Educate users, especially designers and engineers, about the risks of opening RFA files from untrusted sources and implement policies restricting file sharing to verified channels. 3) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools with behavioral analytics to identify abnormal Revit process activity indicative of exploitation attempts. 4) Use application whitelisting and privilege restrictions to limit the ability of Revit processes to execute arbitrary code or write to sensitive system areas. 5) Monitor network traffic for unusual file transfers or communications related to Revit projects. 6) Coordinate with Autodesk for timely patch deployment once available and test patches in controlled environments before production rollout. 7) Maintain regular backups of critical project files to enable recovery in case of data corruption or ransomware linked to exploitation. 8) Consider network segmentation to isolate systems running Revit from broader corporate networks to limit lateral movement.