CVE-2025-25175 Overview
CVE-2025-25175 is a memory corruption vulnerability in Siemens Simcenter Femap, a finite element analysis application used in engineering simulation workflows. The flaw resides in the parser that processes .NEU files. An attacker who convinces a user to open a specially crafted .NEU file can corrupt memory and execute code in the context of the Simcenter Femap process. The issue was reported through the Zero Day Initiative under identifier ZDI-CAN-25443. Siemens published advisory SSA-920092 with fixed versions.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the current user, leading to potential compromise of engineering workstations and intellectual property.
Affected Products
- Siemens Simcenter Femap V2401 — all versions prior to V2401.0003
- Siemens Simcenter Femap V2406 — all versions prior to V2406.0002
- Component: .NEU file parser
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-03-13 - CVE-2025-25175 published to NVD
- 2025-08-19 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-25175
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is classified under [CWE-119] Improper Restriction of Operations within the Bounds of a Memory Buffer. Simcenter Femap accepts neutral-format .NEU files that describe finite element model data such as nodes, elements, and properties. When the application parses a malformed .NEU file, the parser performs memory operations outside the bounds of an allocated buffer.
The corruption gives an attacker the primitive needed to overwrite adjacent memory structures. With control over the corrupted data, the attacker can redirect execution flow and run arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Simcenter Femap. Engineering workstations frequently hold proprietary CAD models and intellectual property, making them high-value targets.
Exploitation requires user interaction. A victim must open the malicious file, typically delivered through phishing, shared project repositories, or supply chain channels involving exchanged simulation models.
Root Cause
The parser does not properly validate field sizes or structural offsets within .NEU files before performing memory operations. Crafted records cause writes or reads outside the intended buffer, resulting in heap or stack memory corruption.
Attack Vector
The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. The attacker delivers a crafted .NEU file to a target running a vulnerable Simcenter Femap version. When the file is opened, the malformed structures trigger the memory corruption during parsing. No authentication or elevated privileges are required on the target system. Network propagation is not part of the exploitation path, but malicious files can be distributed across collaborative engineering environments.
No public proof-of-concept is available, and the vulnerability is not listed on the CISA Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-25175
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected child processes spawned by femap.exe, particularly shells, scripting hosts, or rundll32.exe
- Crash events or Windows Error Reporting entries referencing Simcenter Femap modules during .NEU file open operations
- .NEU files arriving from external email, untrusted shares, or unfamiliar engineering partners
- Outbound network connections from the Simcenter Femap process to unknown hosts after opening a model file
Detection Strategies
- Hunt for process lineage anomalies where femap.exe is the parent of interpreters such as powershell.exe, cmd.exe, or wscript.exe
- Inspect file write events by femap.exe to autorun, startup, or scheduled task locations
- Correlate file open telemetry on .NEU artifacts with subsequent suspicious behavior on the same host
Monitoring Recommendations
- Enable command-line and process creation auditing on engineering workstations running Simcenter Femap
- Forward endpoint process, file, and network telemetry to a central analytics platform for retrospective hunting
- Track installed Simcenter Femap versions through software inventory to identify hosts still below V2401.0003 or V2406.0002
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-25175
Immediate Actions Required
- Upgrade Simcenter Femap V2401 installations to V2401.0003 or later
- Upgrade Simcenter Femap V2406 installations to V2406.0002 or later
- Block inbound .NEU attachments from untrusted senders at the email gateway
- Restrict the opening of .NEU files to those originating from trusted internal repositories
Patch Information
Siemens addressed CVE-2025-25175 in Simcenter Femap V2401.0003 and V2406.0002. Detailed fixed-version guidance and download references are available in the Siemens Security Advisory SSA-920092.
Workarounds
- Open .NEU files only when the source is known and trusted
- Apply application allowlisting to limit which processes Simcenter Femap can spawn
- Run Simcenter Femap under standard user accounts to reduce the impact of code execution
- Isolate engineering workstations on segmented networks to limit lateral movement after compromise
# Example: verify installed Simcenter Femap build on Windows
reg query "HKLM\Software\Siemens\Femap" /s | findstr /i "Version"
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
