CVE-2025-64466 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125 found in National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW software, specifically within the lvre!ExecPostedProcRecPost() function. This vulnerability is triggered when the software parses a corrupted or specially crafted Virtual Instrument (VI) file. An out-of-bounds read occurs when the program reads memory outside the bounds of allocated buffers, which can lead to unintended information disclosure or memory corruption. In this case, the vulnerability can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code or disclose sensitive information, depending on the attacker's crafted VI file. Exploitation requires user interaction, as the victim must open the malicious VI file within LabVIEW. The affected versions include NI LabVIEW 2025 Q3 (25.3) and all prior versions, including 23.1.0, 24.1.0, and 25.1.0. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality (C:H), integrity (I:H), and availability (A:H). No patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for arbitrary code execution. LabVIEW is widely used in industrial automation, test and measurement, and engineering environments, making this vulnerability particularly relevant to organizations relying on these systems.

The impact on European organizations could be substantial, especially those in sectors such as manufacturing, industrial automation, research institutions, and engineering firms that use NI LabVIEW for designing and testing hardware and software systems. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of sensitive design data, intellectual property theft, or disruption of critical industrial processes through arbitrary code execution. This could result in operational downtime, financial losses, and reputational damage. Given the requirement for user interaction, social engineering or phishing campaigns targeting employees who handle VI files could be used to deliver the exploit. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability underscores the risk to organizations that depend on LabVIEW for critical functions. Additionally, compromised systems could be leveraged as footholds for further network intrusion or lateral movement within corporate environments.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should implement the following specific measures: 1) Restrict the sources of VI files by enforcing strict policies on file sharing and use of external VI files, especially from untrusted or unknown origins. 2) Educate users on the risks of opening VI files from unverified sources and implement phishing awareness training to reduce the likelihood of social engineering attacks. 3) Employ application whitelisting to limit execution of unauthorized or unknown VI files within LabVIEW environments. 4) Use sandboxing or virtualized environments to open untrusted VI files, minimizing potential damage from exploitation. 5) Monitor and audit LabVIEW usage and file access logs to detect suspicious activity. 6) Stay alert for official patches or updates from NI and apply them promptly once available. 7) Consider network segmentation to isolate systems running LabVIEW from critical infrastructure to limit lateral movement in case of compromise. These targeted actions go beyond generic advice and address the specific attack vector and environment of this vulnerability.