CVE-2025-7848 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability identified in NI LabVIEW, a widely used system-design platform and development environment for visual programming. The vulnerability stems from improper validation of specified index, position, or offset in input data within the lvpict.cpp source file. This improper input validation can lead to memory corruption, which attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code on the affected system. The vulnerability affects NI LabVIEW versions 0, 23.0.0, 24.0.0, and 25.0.0, including the 2025 Q1 release and prior versions. Exploitation requires an attacker to trick a user into opening a specially crafted Virtual Instrument (VI) file, which contains the malicious payload. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access or convince a user to open the malicious VI file. The attack complexity is low (AC:L), no privileges are required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). Successful exploitation impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability with high impact metrics. Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for arbitrary code execution, which could lead to full system compromise. NI LabVIEW is commonly used in engineering, industrial automation, and research environments, making this vulnerability particularly critical in those contexts.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-7848 can be substantial, especially in sectors relying heavily on NI LabVIEW for automation, control systems, and research applications. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to unauthorized access, data theft, disruption of critical industrial processes, or sabotage of research projects. This is particularly concerning for industries such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, and energy, where LabVIEW is often integrated into operational technology (OT) environments. The vulnerability could also be leveraged as an initial foothold for lateral movement within networks, escalating the risk of broader compromise. Given the requirement for user interaction, social engineering or phishing campaigns targeting engineers and technical staff could be a likely attack vector. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability underscores the potential for severe operational and financial consequences, including intellectual property loss, production downtime, and safety hazards.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately apply any patches or updates released by NI for LabVIEW, prioritizing affected versions 0, 23.0.0, 24.0.0, and 25.0.0. 2) If patches are not yet available, restrict access to LabVIEW project files and avoid opening VI files from untrusted or unknown sources. 3) Implement strict user training and awareness programs focused on recognizing and avoiding malicious VI files and social engineering attempts targeting technical staff. 4) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques for LabVIEW to limit the execution of unauthorized code. 5) Monitor network and host activity for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process launches or memory anomalies related to LabVIEW. 6) Enforce least privilege principles for users running LabVIEW to minimize potential damage from exploitation. 7) Conduct regular security assessments and code reviews of custom VI files used internally to detect potential vulnerabilities or malicious modifications. These targeted measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on the unique aspects of LabVIEW environments and the specific exploitation vector.