CVE-2025-7987 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Ashlar-Vellum Graphite version 13.0, specifically within its VC6 file parsing functionality. The root cause is an out-of-bounds write (CWE-787) due to improper validation of user-supplied data when parsing VC6 files. This flaw allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated buffer boundaries, which can lead to arbitrary code execution 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 parsing of such a file. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication but does require the victim to perform an action that processes the malicious input. The CVSS v3.0 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity but requiring user interaction. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been published yet. The vulnerability was reserved in July 2025 and published in September 2025 by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI).

For European organizations using Ashlar-Vellum Graphite 13.0, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could lead to remote code execution, allowing attackers to gain control over affected systems, potentially leading to data theft, system compromise, or disruption of business operations. Given the nature of the product—likely used in design, engineering, or CAD-related workflows—compromise could result in intellectual property theft or sabotage of critical design files. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to deliver malicious VC6 files. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that sensitive design data and operational continuity could be severely affected. Additionally, since no patches are currently available, organizations remain exposed until mitigations or updates are released.

European organizations should implement the following specific mitigations: 1) Restrict the opening of VC6 files from untrusted or unknown sources, especially those received via email or downloaded from the internet. 2) Employ robust email filtering and endpoint security solutions capable of detecting and blocking malicious file attachments or payloads targeting Ashlar-Vellum Graphite. 3) Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious files and enforce strict policies regarding file handling. 4) Use application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the execution context of Ashlar-Vellum Graphite, reducing the impact of potential exploitation. 5) Monitor systems for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process activity or memory corruption signals. 6) Maintain up-to-date backups of critical design data to enable recovery in case of compromise. 7) Engage with Ashlar-Vellum for timely updates or patches and plan for rapid deployment once available. 8) Consider network segmentation to isolate systems running Graphite from broader enterprise networks to limit lateral movement.