CVE-2025-14599
📋 TL;DR
This CVE describes a Search Order Hijacking vulnerability in Altera Quartus Prime installers on Windows. Attackers can place malicious DLLs in directories searched before legitimate ones, potentially executing arbitrary code when the installer runs. Affected users include anyone running Quartus Prime Standard or Lite versions 23.1 through 24.1 on Windows.
💻 Affected Systems
- Altera Quartus Prime Standard Installer (SFX)
- Altera Quartus Prime Lite Installer (SFX)
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise via arbitrary code execution with installer privileges, potentially leading to persistent backdoors, data theft, or ransomware deployment.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation or malware execution when users run the installer from untrusted directories, potentially compromising development environments.
If Mitigated
No impact if installers are only run from trusted locations with proper file permissions and security controls.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires local access and ability to place malicious DLLs in directories searched before legitimate ones. User must run the installer.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Versions after 24.1
Vendor Advisory: https://www.altera.com/security/security-advisory/asa-0005
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Download latest version from official Intel/Altera website. 2. Uninstall affected versions. 3. Install patched version. 4. Verify installation integrity.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict installer execution locations
windowsOnly run Quartus Prime installers from trusted, controlled directories with proper permissions.
Use application whitelisting
windowsConfigure Windows Defender Application Control or similar to only allow signed installers from trusted paths.
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Run installers only from trusted, write-protected directories
- Implement strict file permissions to prevent unauthorized DLL placement in search paths
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Quartus Prime version: Open Quartus Prime, go to Help > About. If version is between 23.1 and 24.1 inclusive, you are vulnerable.Check Version:
In Quartus Prime: Help > About shows version. Command line: Not directly available.Verify Fix Applied:
After updating, verify version is above 24.1 in Help > About. Test installer behavior from various directories.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Windows Event Logs showing DLL loading from unexpected directories
- Process Monitor logs showing installer searching multiple directories for DLLs
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections from installer process
- DNS queries for suspicious domains during installation
SIEM Query:
Process creation where parent process contains 'quartus' AND command line contains suspicious paths OR DLL loading from non-standard directories