CVE-2025-15062: Trimble SketchUp RCE Vulnerability

CVE-2025-15062 Overview

CVE-2025-15062 is a use-after-free vulnerability affecting Trimble SketchUp that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability—the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file.

The specific flaw exists within the parsing of SKP files. The issue results from the lack of validating the existence of an object prior to performing operations on the object. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process. This vulnerability was tracked as ZDI-CAN-27769.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation enables arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user, potentially leading to complete system compromise if the user has elevated privileges.

Affected Products

• Trimble SketchUp (specific versions not disclosed)

Discovery Timeline

• 2026-01-23 - CVE-2025-15062 published to NVD
• 2026-01-26 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-15062

Vulnerability Analysis

This use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) occurs during the parsing of SketchUp's native SKP file format. The flaw stems from improper memory management where the application fails to validate whether an object still exists before performing operations on it. When a specially crafted SKP file is parsed, the application may attempt to access memory that has already been freed, leading to undefined behavior that can be exploited for code execution.

The vulnerability requires local access to the system—an attacker must convince a user to open a malicious SKP file or visit a webpage that delivers the malicious content. Once the malicious file is opened by SketchUp, the attacker gains the ability to execute arbitrary code with the same privileges as the user running the application.

Root Cause

The root cause is a classic use-after-free condition (CWE-416) in the SKP file parsing logic. The vulnerability exists because the code performs operations on an object without first verifying that the object reference is still valid. This occurs when:

1. An object is allocated during file parsing
2. The object is subsequently freed, but its reference is retained
3. Later parsing operations attempt to use the stale reference
4. The attacker controls the freed memory contents, enabling code execution

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local, requiring user interaction. An attacker would typically:

1. Craft a malicious SKP file designed to trigger the use-after-free condition
2. Deliver the file to the victim via email attachment, file sharing, or hosting it on a malicious webpage
3. Entice the victim to open the file in Trimble SketchUp
4. Upon parsing, the malicious file exploits the use-after-free to execute attacker-controlled code

The vulnerability can be triggered through direct file opening or potentially through web-based delivery mechanisms where SketchUp handles SKP files automatically.

For technical details regarding the exploitation mechanism, refer to the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-25-1198.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-15062

Indicators of Compromise

• Unusual SKP files received from untrusted sources or with suspicious naming conventions
• SketchUp process crashes followed by unexpected child process spawning
• Anomalous memory access patterns or segmentation faults in SketchUp logs
• Unexpected network connections originating from the SketchUp process

Detection Strategies

• Monitor file system activity for SKP files downloaded from untrusted sources or email attachments
• Implement endpoint detection rules to identify SketchUp spawning unexpected child processes
• Deploy behavioral analysis to detect memory corruption exploitation patterns
• Review application crash reports for signs of exploitation attempts

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable detailed logging for SketchUp application events and crashes
• Monitor for unusual process behavior following SKP file operations
• Implement file integrity monitoring for SketchUp installation directories
• Configure SIEM alerts for suspicious file access patterns involving SKP files

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-15062

Immediate Actions Required

• Avoid opening SKP files from untrusted or unknown sources until patches are applied
• Implement network-level controls to scan incoming SKP files for malicious content
• Consider temporary restrictions on automatic file association for SKP files
• Ensure endpoint protection solutions are updated to detect exploitation attempts

Patch Information

Consult Trimble's official security advisories and product update channels for patch availability. Monitor the Zero Day Initiative Advisory ZDI-25-1198 for updated information regarding vendor response and remediation guidance.

Workarounds

• Implement strict email filtering to quarantine or block SKP file attachments
• Configure group policy to prevent automatic opening of SKP files from untrusted locations
• Use application whitelisting to control which processes SketchUp can spawn
• Run SketchUp in a sandboxed environment when opening files from external sources

Organizations should apply defense-in-depth strategies including network segmentation and user awareness training regarding the risks of opening files from unknown sources.