CVE-2025-7981 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Ashlar-Vellum Graphite version 13_SE_13048. The flaw is classified under CWE-457, which involves the use of uninitialized variables. Specifically, the vulnerability arises during the parsing of VC6 files, where the software fails to properly initialize memory before accessing it. This memory mismanagement can be exploited by remote attackers to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current process. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a maliciously crafted VC6 file or visiting a malicious webpage that triggers the vulnerable parsing routine. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.0 base score of 7.8, reflecting high impact across confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with an attack vector of local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The vulnerability was publicly disclosed on September 17, 2025, and is tracked as ZDI-CAN-25475 by the Zero Day Initiative. No known exploits are currently observed in the wild, and no official patches have been released yet. The vulnerability enables remote code execution, which could allow attackers to take full control over affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or further network infiltration.

For European organizations using Ashlar-Vellum Graphite, particularly version 13_SE_13048, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. The ability for remote code execution means attackers could gain unauthorized access to sensitive design or engineering data, intellectual property, or internal networks. Given that exploitation requires user interaction, targeted phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious VC6 files or lure users to malicious websites. The compromise could disrupt business operations, lead to data breaches, and damage reputations. Organizations in sectors such as manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and product design—where Ashlar-Vellum Graphite is more commonly used—are at heightened risk. Additionally, the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact means that successful exploitation could result in data corruption, unauthorized data disclosure, or denial of service conditions. The lack of patches increases the window of exposure, emphasizing the need for proactive mitigation.

1. Immediate mitigation should focus on user awareness and training to prevent opening untrusted VC6 files or visiting suspicious websites. 2. Implement strict email and web filtering to block or quarantine potentially malicious attachments and links. 3. Employ application whitelisting to restrict execution of unauthorized files and scripts. 4. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 5. Isolate systems running Ashlar-Vellum Graphite from critical networks where possible to limit lateral movement. 6. Regularly back up important data and verify backup integrity to enable recovery in case of compromise. 7. Monitor vendor communications closely for patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 8. Consider deploying sandbox environments to safely open and analyze VC6 files before use. 9. Review and tighten user privileges to minimize the impact of potential code execution. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on specific attack vectors and operational controls relevant to this vulnerability.