CVE-2025-5042 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125, affecting Autodesk Revit versions 2023 to 2026. The flaw occurs when Revit parses a specially crafted RFA (Revit Family) file, which can cause the application to read memory beyond the intended buffer boundaries. This memory corruption can lead to several adverse outcomes: application crashes (denial of service), unauthorized disclosure of sensitive information from process memory, or even arbitrary code execution within the context of the Revit process. The vulnerability requires local access and user interaction (opening the malicious RFA file) but does not require elevated privileges, making it accessible to any user who can open files in Revit. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects a high severity, with a vector indicating low attack complexity, no privileges required, but user interaction necessary. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as it can leak data, alter program flow, or crash the application. No public exploits are known at this time, but the potential for exploitation exists given the widespread use of Revit in architecture, engineering, and construction industries. Autodesk has not yet released patches, so users must rely on interim mitigations. The vulnerability’s root cause is improper bounds checking when parsing RFA files, a common source of memory safety issues in complex file parsers.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-5042 can be significant, especially those in architecture, engineering, construction, and related design sectors that heavily rely on Autodesk Revit. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive design data, intellectual property theft, or disruption of critical design workflows through crashes or code execution. This could result in financial losses, reputational damage, and delays in project delivery. Given the collaborative nature of design projects, compromised systems might also serve as pivot points for broader network intrusion. The confidentiality impact is high due to potential data leakage, integrity is compromised by possible arbitrary code execution, and availability is affected by crashes. The requirement for user interaction limits remote exploitation but does not eliminate risk, especially from targeted phishing or supply chain attacks delivering malicious RFA files. European organizations with less mature cybersecurity practices or insufficient file validation controls are particularly vulnerable.

1. Restrict the sources of RFA files to trusted suppliers and collaborators only, employing strict file validation policies before opening them in Revit. 2. Implement application whitelisting and sandboxing for Revit to limit the impact of potential exploitation. 3. Monitor and audit Revit usage and file access logs to detect anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected RFA files, emphasizing cautious handling of design files from external sources. 5. Once Autodesk releases patches, prioritize their deployment across all affected Revit versions. 6. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying memory corruption or unusual process behavior related to Revit. 7. Consider network segmentation to isolate design workstations from critical infrastructure to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. 8. Regularly back up design data and maintain incident response plans tailored to software supply chain and file-based attacks.