CVE-2025-6634 is a high-severity buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Autodesk 3ds Max version 2026. The vulnerability arises from improper handling of TGA image files during the linking or importing process. Specifically, the flaw is a classic buffer overflow (CWE-120) caused by copying data from a maliciously crafted TGA file into a buffer without verifying the size of the input. This unchecked copy operation can lead to memory corruption, allowing an attacker to overwrite memory regions adjacent to the buffer. Exploiting this vulnerability enables arbitrary code execution within the context of the 3ds Max process. The attack vector requires the victim to import or link a specially crafted TGA file, which implies user interaction is necessary. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity and no privileges required, but user interaction is needed. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2025 and published in August 2025, indicating recent discovery and disclosure.

For European organizations, especially those in industries relying heavily on 3D modeling and animation such as media, entertainment, architecture, and manufacturing, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could lead to full compromise of the affected workstation or system running 3ds Max, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data theft, sabotage of design files, or lateral movement within corporate networks. Given the high confidentiality and integrity impact, sensitive intellectual property and proprietary designs could be exposed or altered. The requirement for user interaction (importing a malicious TGA file) suggests that social engineering or supply chain attacks (e.g., malicious files received from third parties) could be leveraged. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not preclude future active exploitation. Disruption of availability could also occur if the application crashes due to memory corruption, impacting productivity.

European organizations should implement several targeted mitigations: 1) Restrict and monitor the sources of TGA files imported into 3ds Max, enforcing strict validation and scanning of image files for malicious content before use. 2) Educate users, especially designers and artists, about the risks of importing files from untrusted or unknown sources to reduce the likelihood of social engineering. 3) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the impact of potential code execution within 3ds Max processes. 4) Monitor for anomalous behavior or crashes related to 3ds Max that could indicate exploitation attempts. 5) Coordinate with Autodesk for timely patch deployment once available, and consider temporary disabling of TGA file imports if feasible until patches are released. 6) Integrate this vulnerability into vulnerability management and incident response plans to ensure rapid detection and remediation.