CVE-2025-21138
Published: 14 January 2025
Summary
CVE-2025-21138 is a high-severity Out-of-bounds Write (CWE-787) vulnerability in Adobe Substance 3D Designer. Its CVSS base score is 7.8 (High).
Operationally, exploitation aligns with the MITRE ATT&CK technique Malicious File (T1204.002); ranked at the 34.1th percentile by exploit likelihood (below the median); it is not currently listed in the CISA KEV catalog.
The strongest mitigations our analysis identified are NIST 800-53 RA-5 (Vulnerability Monitoring and Scanning) and SI-2 (Flaw Remediation).
Threat & Defense at a Glance
Threat & Defense Details
Mitigating Controls (NIST 800-53 r5)AI
Directly remediates the out-of-bounds write vulnerability in Substance3D Designer by requiring timely application of vendor patches from Adobe's APSB25-06 bulletin.
Implements memory protections such as ASLR and DEP to mitigate exploitation of the out-of-bounds write leading to arbitrary code execution.
Enables identification of systems running vulnerable versions of Substance3D Designer through vulnerability scanning tailored to CVE-2025-21138.
MITRE ATT&CK Enterprise TechniquesAI
Why these techniques?
Out-of-bounds write enables arbitrary code execution triggered by opening a malicious file, directly mapping to user execution via malicious file.
NVD Description
Substance3D - Designer versions 14.0 and earlier are affected by an out-of-bounds write vulnerability that could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user. Exploitation of this issue requires user interaction in that a victim must…
more
open a malicious file.
Deeper analysisAI
CVE-2025-21138 is an out-of-bounds write vulnerability (CWE-787) affecting Adobe Substance3D Designer versions 14.0 and earlier. Published on 2025-01-14, the flaw could result in arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user.
Exploitation requires user interaction, as a victim must open a malicious file. An attacker needs only local access with no privileges (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R), and successful exploitation grants high impacts on confidentiality, integrity, and availability (CVSS:3.1 score of 7.8; S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H).
Adobe's security bulletin APSB25-06 provides details on mitigation: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/substance3d_designer/apsb25-06.html.
Details
- CWE(s)