CVE-2025-7998 is a high-severity remote code execution vulnerability affecting Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt version 12 SP1. The vulnerability arises from an out-of-bounds write condition during the parsing of CO files, a proprietary file format used by the software. Specifically, the flaw is due to insufficient validation of user-supplied data within the CO file parser, which allows an attacker to write data beyond the allocated memory buffer. This memory corruption can be exploited to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current process. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as opening a maliciously crafted CO file or visiting a malicious web page that triggers the file parsing. The vulnerability is tracked under CWE-787 (Out-of-bounds Write) and was assigned CVSS v3.0 base score 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), requiring low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges (PR:N), but user interaction (UI:R). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild. The vulnerability was publicly disclosed in September 2025 and was initially reserved in July 2025 by the Zero Day Initiative (ZDI) under ID ZDI-CAN-26046. No official patches or mitigations have been linked yet, indicating that affected organizations should prioritize risk assessment and interim protective measures.

For European organizations using Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt 12 SP1, this vulnerability poses a significant risk. Successful exploitation could lead to full compromise of the affected system, enabling attackers to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to data theft, system manipulation, or disruption of business operations. Given that the vulnerability requires user interaction, targeted phishing campaigns or malicious file distribution could be effective attack vectors. Organizations in sectors relying on CAD or design software, such as manufacturing, engineering, architecture, and product design, may be particularly impacted. The confidentiality of sensitive design data and intellectual property could be at risk, as well as the integrity and availability of critical design workflows. Additionally, compromised systems could serve as footholds for lateral movement within corporate networks, escalating the threat to broader enterprise environments.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should: 1) Immediately identify and inventory all instances of Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt 12 SP1 within their environment. 2) Restrict or monitor the opening of CO files from untrusted or external sources, including email attachments and downloads. 3) Implement strict user awareness training focused on avoiding opening suspicious files or links, emphasizing the risk of this specific vulnerability. 4) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques to limit the execution context of Ashlar-Vellum Cobalt, reducing the impact of potential exploitation. 5) Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process launches or memory anomalies. 6) Engage with Ashlar-Vellum for official patches or updates and apply them promptly once available. 7) Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting exploitation patterns related to out-of-bounds memory writes. 8) Where feasible, isolate design workstations from critical network segments to contain potential breaches.