CVE-2025-8894 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability classified under CWE-122, affecting Autodesk Revit versions 2024 through 2026. The flaw arises when Revit parses a specially crafted PDF file, leading to an overflow condition on the heap memory. This memory corruption can be exploited by an attacker to cause a denial of service (application crash), leak sensitive information from process memory, or execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the Revit application. The vulnerability has a CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8, indicating high severity. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system, but no privileges are required (PR:N). User interaction is necessary (UI:R), such as opening or importing the malicious PDF into Revit. The vulnerability affects confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), making it a critical concern for organizations relying on Revit for design and modeling. No patches or exploit code are currently publicly available, but the vulnerability is published and should be treated as a priority. The root cause is improper bounds checking during PDF parsing, allowing heap memory to be overwritten. This can be weaponized by threat actors to compromise systems, especially in environments where Revit is used extensively for sensitive architectural or engineering projects.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-8894 is significant due to the widespread use of Autodesk Revit in architecture, engineering, and construction (AEC) industries. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized disclosure of intellectual property, design documents, and sensitive project data, undermining confidentiality. Integrity of design files and project data could be compromised, potentially causing flawed construction or engineering outcomes. Availability is also at risk as crashes or arbitrary code execution could disrupt workflows, causing operational delays and financial losses. Given the local attack vector and requirement for user interaction, insider threats or targeted spear-phishing campaigns embedding malicious PDFs pose realistic attack scenarios. The lack of current exploits in the wild does not diminish the urgency, as threat actors could develop exploits rapidly once the vulnerability details are public. European firms involved in critical infrastructure projects or government contracts using Revit may face elevated risks, including regulatory and compliance repercussions if sensitive data is leaked or systems are compromised.

1. Immediately implement strict controls on PDF files imported or opened within Autodesk Revit, including disabling automatic PDF parsing if possible. 2. Educate users to avoid opening PDFs from untrusted or unknown sources within Revit projects. 3. Employ endpoint security solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior related to heap overflows or suspicious process activity in Revit. 4. Monitor logs and network traffic for signs of exploitation attempts or unusual file access patterns. 5. Segregate Revit workstations from critical network segments to limit lateral movement if compromise occurs. 6. Coordinate with Autodesk for timely patch releases and apply updates as soon as they become available. 7. Consider implementing application whitelisting and sandboxing for Revit to contain potential exploits. 8. Conduct regular security awareness training focused on social engineering vectors involving malicious document files. 9. Review and tighten access controls to limit local user privileges on systems running Revit. 10. Maintain offline backups of critical project files to ensure recovery in case of compromise.