Description

Substance3D - Sampler is affected by a Heap-based Buffer Overflow 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 open a malicious file.

Executive Summary

Technical Details

Mitigations

References

Additional Metadata

{
  "score": "7.8",
  "pubDate": "2026-08-25T18:17:54.037Z",
  "pubdate": "2026-08-25T18:17:54.037Z",
  "executiveSummary": "Substance3D - Sampler is susceptible to a heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability, categorized as a memory corruption flaw.\nThis vulnerability poses a significant security risk, as it allows for arbitrary code execution within the security context of the current user.\nSuccessful exploitation requires the victim to interact with a specially crafted, malicious file, necessitating social engineering or delivery of an untrusted file.\nThe impact is severe, potentially leading to full system compromise or sensitive data exfiltration upon successful exploitation.\nThe vulnerability resides within the file parsing logic of Substance3D - Sampler, where insufficient bounds checking during the processing of malformed data facilitates the overwrite of heap-allocated memory.\nThere is no requirement for network exposure or prior authentication to trigger this vulnerability, as the attack vector is localized to the user's interaction with the malicious file.",
  "technicalDetails": "The vulnerability is identified as a heap-based buffer overflow originating from improper validation of input data size during the parsing of files within Substance3D - Sampler. The root cause is a boundary condition error where the application fails to adequately verify the length of user-supplied data before copying it into a pre-allocated heap buffer.\nWhen the software parses a malformed file containing metadata or structure elements that exceed the intended allocation size, a heap overflow condition is triggered. This memory corruption allows an attacker to overwrite adjacent heap chunks, including metadata structures like heap headers, forward/backward pointers, or function pointers stored within object instances.\nThe attack flow begins when a user is convinced to open a maliciously crafted file using Substance3D - Sampler. Upon opening, the vulnerable component attempts to process the file's payload. The parser initiates a memory copy operation, such as a memcpy or equivalent, using length parameters derived directly from the malicious file headers without verifying if the length exceeds the capacity of the target heap buffer.\nAs the overflow occurs, the attacker can overwrite sensitive data on the heap to control the instruction pointer (RIP/EIP) or redirect execution flow. By precisely crafting the file payload (a heap grooming technique), the attacker can stabilize the heap state and redirect the application execution to a location containing shellcode or a ROP (Return-Oriented Programming) chain.\nBecause the application runs with the privileges of the currently logged-in user, the resulting arbitrary code execution inherits those same permissions. This effectively bypasses standard user-level access controls. The payload execution may result in the deployment of persistent malware, credential theft, or the execution of arbitrary system commands.\nThis vulnerability is classified as a local attack vector requiring victim interaction. It does not require remote authentication or elevated privileges prior to exploitation, as the malicious file provides the necessary mechanism to bypass the application's intended logic. Post-exploitation impact includes complete system compromise, unauthorized access to sensitive application data, and the potential for lateral movement within the host environment."
}