CVE-2025-27173
📋 TL;DR
CVE-2025-27173 is a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Substance3D Modeler that allows arbitrary code execution when a user opens a malicious file. This affects users of Substance3D Modeler versions 1.15.0 and earlier, potentially compromising their systems.
💻 Affected Systems
- Adobe Substance3D Modeler
📦 What is this software?
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with attacker gaining the same privileges as the current user, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or lateral movement within the network.
Likely Case
Local privilege escalation leading to malware installation, data exfiltration, or persistence mechanisms being established on the compromised system.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and user privilege restrictions, potentially only affecting the application's process space.
🎯 Exploit Status
Exploitation requires user interaction (opening malicious file) and knowledge of heap manipulation techniques.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: 1.16.0 or later
Vendor Advisory: https://helpx.adobe.com/security/products/substance3d-modeler/apsb25-21.html
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open Substance3D Modeler. 2. Go to Help > Check for Updates. 3. Install version 1.16.0 or later. 4. Verify installation by checking version in About dialog.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Restrict file processing
allConfigure application to only open trusted files from known sources
Application sandboxing
allRun Substance3D Modeler in restricted environments or sandboxes
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application allowlisting to restrict which users can run Substance3D Modeler
- Deploy endpoint protection that can detect and block malicious 3D model files
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Substance3D Modeler version in Help > About dialog. If version is 1.15.0 or earlier, system is vulnerable.Check Version:
Not applicable - check via application GUI Help > AboutVerify Fix Applied:
Verify version is 1.16.0 or later in Help > About dialog after update.📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Application crashes with memory access violations
- Unexpected file processing from untrusted sources
Network Indicators:
- Unusual outbound connections after file processing
SIEM Query:
EventID=1000 OR EventID=1001 AND ProcessName="Substance3D Modeler.exe" AND ExceptionCode=0xC0000005