CVE-2025-14612: Altera Quartus Prime Pro File Vulnerability

CVE-2025-14612 Overview

CVE-2025-14612 is an Insecure Temporary File vulnerability affecting the Altera Quartus Prime Pro Installer (SFX) on Windows systems. The vulnerability stems from the use of predictable file names during the installation process, which could allow a local attacker to exploit race conditions and potentially hijack the installation workflow.

Critical Impact

Local attackers with limited privileges may be able to predict temporary file names used during Quartus Prime Pro installation, potentially enabling file manipulation or privilege escalation attacks on Windows systems.

Affected Products

• Altera Quartus Prime Pro version 24.1
• Altera Quartus Prime Pro version 25.1.1
• All versions between 24.1 and 25.1.1

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-07 - CVE-2025-14612 published to NVD
• 2026-01-08 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-14612

Vulnerability Analysis

This vulnerability is classified under CWE-377 (Insecure Temporary File), which occurs when an application creates temporary files in an insecure manner. In the context of the Altera Quartus Prime Pro Installer, the self-extracting archive (SFX) component uses predictable file naming conventions when creating temporary files during the installation process on Windows systems.

The insecure temporary file handling creates an opportunity for attackers to anticipate the names of files that will be created during installation. This predictability can be leveraged in conjunction with other attack techniques to compromise the installation process or gain elevated privileges.

Root Cause

The root cause of CVE-2025-14612 lies in the installer's failure to implement secure temporary file creation practices. Instead of using cryptographically random, unpredictable file names, the SFX installer generates temporary files with predictable naming patterns. This implementation flaw violates secure coding principles for temporary file handling on Windows systems.

Secure temporary file creation should utilize operating system APIs that generate unique, unpredictable file names (such as GetTempFileName with proper randomization or cryptographic random number generation for file naming). The affected Quartus Prime Pro installer versions fail to implement these secure practices.

Attack Vector

The attack vector for this vulnerability is local, requiring an attacker to have some level of access to the target Windows system. The exploitation scenario typically involves:

1. Reconnaissance: The attacker monitors the target system to identify when Quartus Prime Pro installations occur
2. File Name Prediction: Due to the predictable naming scheme, the attacker anticipates the temporary file names that will be created
3. Pre-creation Attack: The attacker creates a file with the predicted name before the legitimate installation process, potentially containing malicious content
4. Hijacking: When the installer attempts to use the temporary file location, it interacts with the attacker-controlled file instead

This type of attack requires user interaction (the victim must run the installer) and has high attack complexity due to the timing requirements. However, successful exploitation could result in high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-14612

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual file activity in Windows temporary directories (%TEMP%, %TMP%) during Quartus Prime Pro installation
• Presence of suspicious files in temporary directories with naming patterns matching Quartus installer conventions
• Unexpected process behavior during Quartus Prime Pro installation
• File integrity monitoring alerts for temporary directories during installation windows

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file creation events in temporary directories during known Quartus Prime Pro installation windows
• Implement file integrity monitoring (FIM) on systems where Quartus Prime Pro installations are expected
• Configure endpoint detection to alert on race condition exploitation patterns targeting installer processes
• Deploy SentinelOne Singularity to detect and prevent suspicious file system manipulation activities

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for file system operations in Windows temporary directories
• Configure security information and event management (SIEM) rules to correlate installation events with anomalous file activity
• Implement process monitoring for the Quartus Prime Pro installer executable to detect unexpected child processes or file operations
• Review Windows Security Event logs for file access patterns during installation periods

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-14612

Immediate Actions Required

• Review and update Altera Quartus Prime Pro installations to the latest patched version available from Altera
• Limit access to systems where Quartus Prime Pro installations are performed to trusted administrators only
• Perform installations on isolated systems or virtual machines when possible to reduce exposure
• Ensure endpoint protection solutions are active and updated during installation processes

Patch Information

Altera has published a security advisory (ASA-0004) addressing this vulnerability. Organizations using affected versions of Quartus Prime Pro (24.1 through 25.1.1) should consult the Altera Security Advisory ASA-0004 for official patch information and remediation guidance.

Verify that your Quartus Prime Pro installation is updated beyond version 25.1.1 or has the security patch applied as specified in the vendor advisory.

Workarounds

• Perform Quartus Prime Pro installations only on freshly provisioned or clean systems where no malicious actors have prior access
• Temporarily restrict local user access to the system during installation to minimize the window for exploitation
• Monitor temporary directories manually or with automated tools during the installation process for unexpected file creation
• Consider using alternative installation methods or isolated environments if available from Altera

# Configuration example
# Verify Quartus Prime Pro version after installation
# Navigate to the Quartus installation directory and check version
cd "C:\intelFPGA_pro\quartus"
quartus_sh --version

# Enable Windows auditing for temporary directory file creation
auditpol /set /subcategory:"File System" /success:enable /failure:enable

# Review temporary directory permissions (run as Administrator)
icacls "%TEMP%" /inheritance:r /grant:r "%USERNAME%:F" /grant:r "SYSTEM:F"