CVE-2025-5042 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Autodesk Revit 2026, categorized as a CWE-125 Out-of-Bounds Read. This vulnerability arises when a maliciously crafted RFA (Revit Family) file is parsed by the software. The flaw allows an attacker to cause an out-of-bounds read operation, which can lead to several critical consequences. Specifically, exploitation can result in application crashes (denial of service), unauthorized reading of sensitive memory contents, or even execution of arbitrary code within the context of the Revit process. The vulnerability requires local access to open a malicious RFA file, and user interaction is necessary to trigger the exploit, as the user must open or import the crafted file. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.8, reflecting high severity due to the combined impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required. Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the potential for significant damage exists, especially in environments where Revit is used extensively for architectural and engineering design. The absence of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation and monitoring.

For European organizations, particularly those in architecture, engineering, and construction sectors that rely heavily on Autodesk Revit 2026, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive design data, intellectual property theft, or disruption of critical design workflows through application crashes or code execution. This could result in project delays, financial losses, and reputational damage. Moreover, if exploited in a targeted manner, attackers could leverage this vulnerability to gain a foothold within corporate networks, potentially escalating privileges or moving laterally to other systems. Given the collaborative nature of design projects and frequent file exchanges, the risk of receiving malicious RFA files from external or internal sources is non-negligible. The impact is heightened in regulated industries or government projects where confidentiality and integrity of design data are paramount.

Organizations should implement a multi-layered approach to mitigate this vulnerability. First, restrict the opening of RFA files to trusted sources only and enforce strict file validation policies. Employ sandboxing or isolated environments for opening untrusted or externally sourced RFA files to contain potential exploitation. Monitor and audit file exchanges and user activities related to Revit to detect anomalous behavior. Since no patches are currently available, coordinate closely with Autodesk for timely updates and apply patches immediately upon release. Additionally, implement endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting abnormal memory access patterns or exploitation attempts. Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious RFA files and enforce the principle of least privilege to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Network segmentation can also reduce the risk of lateral movement if compromise occurs.