CVE-2026-23718 is an out-of-bounds read vulnerability classified under CWE-125 found in Siemens Simcenter Femap and Simcenter Nastran products, affecting all versions prior to V2512. The flaw arises when the software parses specially crafted NDB files, which are used for engineering simulation data. An attacker can exploit this vulnerability by providing a maliciously crafted NDB file that triggers an out-of-bounds read, leading to memory corruption. This memory corruption can be leveraged to execute arbitrary code within the context of the current process, potentially allowing an attacker to compromise the system running the vulnerable software. The vulnerability requires local access to the system and user interaction to open or process the malicious file, but does not require elevated privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), user interaction required (UI:R), unchanged scope (S:U), and high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H). No public exploits are known at this time, but the vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the critical nature of the affected applications in engineering workflows. Siemens has reserved the CVE and published the vulnerability details, but no patch links are currently available, indicating that remediation may be pending or in progress.

The impact on European organizations is significant, particularly for those in industries relying heavily on Siemens Simcenter Femap and Nastran for engineering simulations, such as aerospace, automotive, manufacturing, and energy sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to arbitrary code execution, enabling attackers to steal sensitive intellectual property, disrupt simulation workflows, or pivot within the network. This could result in loss of confidentiality of proprietary designs, integrity breaches affecting simulation accuracy, and availability issues causing operational downtime. Given the critical role of these tools in product development and testing, exploitation could delay projects and cause financial losses. Additionally, the local attack vector and user interaction requirement mean that insider threats or targeted phishing campaigns delivering malicious NDB files are plausible attack vectors. The absence of known exploits currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers may develop exploits once patches are released.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize upgrading Siemens Simcenter Femap and Simcenter Nastran to version V2512 or later once patches are available. Until then, restrict access to NDB files and avoid opening files from untrusted or unknown sources. Implement strict file validation and scanning procedures for engineering data files. Employ endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior related to file parsing. Educate users on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious NDB files to reduce the likelihood of successful social engineering. Network segmentation can limit the spread of potential compromise from affected workstations. Monitor logs for unusual application crashes or behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. Coordinate with Siemens support for timely updates and advisories. Finally, consider implementing application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized execution of code within the simulation environment.