CVE-2024-49515: Adobe Substance 3D Painter RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2024-49515 Overview

Adobe Substance 3D Painter versions 10.1.0 and earlier contain an Untrusted Search Path vulnerability [CWE-426] that allows attackers to execute arbitrary code. The application resolves critical resources through a search path that an attacker can influence. When a victim opens a malicious file, the application loads an attacker-controlled binary from the manipulated path. Successful exploitation grants code execution in the context of the user running Substance 3D Painter.

Critical Impact
Attackers gain arbitrary local code execution with the privileges of the current user after the victim opens a crafted file, compromising confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

Affected Products

Adobe Substance 3D Painter 10.1.0
Adobe Substance 3D Painter versions prior to 10.1.0
Windows and macOS installations of Substance 3D Painter

Discovery Timeline

2024-11-12 - CVE-2024-49515 published to the National Vulnerability Database
2024-11-12 - Adobe publishes Security Advisory APSB24-86
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2024-49515

Vulnerability Analysis

Substance 3D Painter locates programs, libraries, or configuration resources through an untrusted search path. An attacker who controls a directory that appears earlier in the resolution order can place a malicious binary that the application loads instead of the legitimate resource. The trust boundary breaks because the application does not enforce absolute paths or validated locations for critical dependencies.

The issue is classified under CWE-426 (Untrusted Search Path). Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, since the victim must open a malicious project file or asset supplied by the attacker. Once triggered, the injected code runs with the permissions of the interactive user session.

Root Cause

The root cause is Substance 3D Painter resolving critical resources through a search path that includes directories writable by, or controllable by, an attacker. When the application enumerates candidate locations, an attacker-planted file wins the resolution race and gets loaded into the process.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker delivers a malicious project file, texture pack, or plugin bundle alongside a companion payload placed in a directory that the search path evaluates. When the victim opens the file in Substance 3D Painter, the process loads the attacker-supplied binary and executes its code.

No verified public proof-of-concept code is available for this issue. See the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-86 for vendor technical guidance.

Detection Methods for CVE-2024-49515

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected DLL, dylib, or executable files placed alongside Substance 3D Painter project files or in per-user application directories
Child processes spawned by Substance 3D Painter.exe that are not part of the legitimate Adobe process tree
Substance 3D Painter loading modules from user-writable directories such as Downloads, Temp, or a project working folder

Detection Strategies

Monitor image and module loads for Substance 3D Painter and alert when the process maps binaries from non-Adobe, user-writable paths
Correlate Substance 3D Painter launches with recent file downloads or extractions from archives containing project assets
Baseline the legitimate module set of Substance 3D Painter and flag deviations after a new file is opened

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable process creation and module load telemetry on workstations running Adobe creative tools
Track integrity of directories that Substance 3D Painter uses for plugins, resources, and project files
Review endpoint logs for user-initiated execution of unsigned binaries following the opening of .spp or related asset files

How to Mitigate CVE-2024-49515

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade Adobe Substance 3D Painter to a version later than 10.1.0 as directed by Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-86
Restrict opening of Substance 3D Painter project files sourced from untrusted email, chat, or download channels
Audit workstations for unauthorized files staged in directories used by Substance 3D Painter

Patch Information

Adobe addressed the vulnerability in the update published under advisory APSB24-86. Administrators should deploy the fixed release across all endpoints running Substance 3D Painter and confirm the installed version is above 10.1.0. Refer to the Adobe Security Advisory APSB24-86 for exact fixed version details.

Workarounds

Only open Substance 3D Painter project files and assets from trusted sources and verified network shares
Enforce least-privilege user accounts so that a successful exploit does not yield administrative rights
Apply application allowlisting to prevent execution of unsigned binaries from user-writable directories used by Substance 3D Painter

bash

# Verify installed Substance 3D Painter version on Windows
(Get-ItemProperty "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*" |
  Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like "*Substance 3D Painter*" }) |
  Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion, InstallLocation