The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-60749 is a DLL hijacking issue in Trimble SketchUp desktop 2025. It arises from the way the application loads the libcef.dll library used by the sketchup_webhelper.exe process. DLL hijacking occurs when an attacker places a malicious DLL with the same name as a legitimate DLL in a location that the application searches before the legitimate DLL's directory. When the application loads the malicious DLL, it can lead to arbitrary code execution under the context of the user running the application. This can allow attackers to execute malicious payloads, potentially leading to system compromise, data theft, or disruption of services. The vulnerability does not currently have a CVSS score, nor are there known exploits in the wild, but the technical nature of DLL hijacking and the critical role of SketchUp in professional environments make this a significant concern. The lack of affected version details suggests that the vulnerability may impact the initial or all releases of SketchUp desktop 2025. The vulnerability was reserved in late September 2025 and published by the MITRE CVE database by the end of October 2025. The absence of patch links indicates that a fix may not yet be available, emphasizing the need for interim mitigations. DLL hijacking vulnerabilities are often exploited by placing malicious DLLs in writable directories or through social engineering to trick users into running compromised files. The sketchup_webhelper.exe process is likely a helper process related to SketchUp's web or rendering components, making it a critical attack vector. Organizations relying on SketchUp for design and modeling should be aware of this threat and prepare to apply patches or mitigations promptly.

Exploitation of this DLL hijacking vulnerability could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running SketchUp, potentially leading to full system compromise. For European organizations, especially those in architecture, engineering, construction, and related industries that heavily use SketchUp, this could result in theft of intellectual property, disruption of design workflows, and compromise of sensitive project data. The integrity of design files and availability of the application could be affected, causing operational delays and financial losses. Since the vulnerability does not require user interaction beyond running the application and does not require authentication, the attack surface is broad. Additionally, if attackers gain persistence through this method, they could establish long-term footholds in corporate networks. The absence of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers often develop exploits rapidly once vulnerabilities are publicized. The impact is heightened in environments where users have elevated privileges or where endpoint protections are weak.

Until an official patch is released by Trimble, organizations should implement several specific mitigations: 1) Restrict write permissions to directories where SketchUp and its helper processes reside to prevent unauthorized DLL placement. 2) Employ application whitelisting to ensure only trusted binaries and DLLs are loaded by SketchUp. 3) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious DLL loading behaviors or unauthorized file modifications. 4) Educate users to avoid running SketchUp from untrusted locations or with elevated privileges unnecessarily. 5) Consider isolating SketchUp usage within controlled environments or virtual machines to limit potential damage. 6) Monitor Trimble’s official channels for patches or security advisories and apply updates promptly once available. 7) Conduct regular audits of application directories to detect unexpected DLL files. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling the DLL search path and preventing unauthorized DLL injection specific to this vulnerability.