CVE-2025-7849 is a high-severity memory corruption vulnerability identified in National Instruments (NI) LabVIEW software, specifically affecting versions 2025 Q1 and prior, including versions 0, 23.0.0, 24.0.0, and 25.0.0. The root cause of this vulnerability is improper error handling when a VILinkObj (a LabVIEW internal object) is null, which leads to memory corruption. This flaw can be exploited by an attacker who convinces a user to open a specially crafted VI (Virtual Instrument) file. Upon opening such a malicious VI, the memory corruption can be triggered, potentially allowing arbitrary code execution within the context of the user running LabVIEW. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating a high severity level. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring the attacker to have local access or to trick a user into opening the malicious VI (user interaction required). No privileges are required to exploit this vulnerability (PR:N), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the potential for full system compromise if exploited. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-1285, which relates to improper handling of null pointers or objects leading to memory corruption. Since LabVIEW is widely used in engineering, scientific research, industrial automation, and test environments, exploitation could have serious consequences in these domains.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-7849 can be substantial, especially for industries relying heavily on LabVIEW for automation, control systems, and testing environments. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, allowing attackers to execute malicious payloads, steal sensitive intellectual property, disrupt critical industrial processes, or pivot within the network to compromise other systems. This is particularly concerning for sectors such as manufacturing, automotive, aerospace, energy, and research institutions prevalent in Europe. The vulnerability could also be leveraged for espionage or sabotage, given the strategic importance of these sectors. Additionally, since exploitation requires user interaction (opening a malicious VI), phishing or social engineering campaigns targeting engineers or technical staff could be an effective attack vector. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that exploitation could result in data breaches, operational downtime, and loss of trust in critical infrastructure systems.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately audit and inventory all LabVIEW installations to identify affected versions. 2) Apply patches or updates from NI as soon as they become available; if patches are not yet released, consider temporary workarounds such as restricting the opening of VI files from untrusted sources or disabling features that process external VI files. 3) Implement strict access controls and user privilege restrictions to limit who can open or create VI files. 4) Educate users, especially engineers and technical staff, about the risks of opening VI files from unknown or untrusted sources to reduce the likelihood of social engineering exploitation. 5) Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious activity related to LabVIEW processes. 6) Use network segmentation to isolate critical LabVIEW environments from general user networks to reduce attack surface. 7) Regularly back up critical LabVIEW projects and related data to enable recovery in case of compromise. 8) Monitor threat intelligence feeds for any emerging exploits or indicators of compromise related to CVE-2025-7849 to respond promptly.