CVE-2025-40741: Siemens Solid Edge Buffer Overflow Flaw

CVE-2025-40741 Overview

CVE-2025-40741 is a stack-based buffer overflow vulnerability in Siemens Solid Edge SE2025, a widely deployed computer-aided design (CAD) application. The flaw resides in the routine that parses CFG configuration files. An attacker who convinces a user to open a specially crafted CFG file can corrupt the stack and execute arbitrary code in the context of the Solid Edge process. All versions of Solid Edge SE2025 prior to V225.0 Update 5 are affected. The issue is tracked as [CWE-121: Stack-based Buffer Overflow] and is documented in Siemens Security Advisory SSA-091753.

Critical Impact

Successful exploitation allows local code execution with the privileges of the user running Solid Edge, enabling attackers to install malware, steal CAD intellectual property, or pivot deeper into engineering networks.

Affected Products

• Siemens Solid Edge SE2025 (all versions prior to V225.0 Update 5)
• Siemens Solid Edge SE2025 Update 1 through Update 4
• Siemens Solid Edge SE2025 base release

Discovery Timeline

• 2025-07-08 - CVE-2025-40741 published to NVD
• 2025-08-21 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-40741

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability stems from improper bounds checking when Solid Edge parses CFG configuration files. A field within the file controls the size of data copied into a fixed-size stack buffer. When the supplied value exceeds the buffer capacity, the copy operation overwrites adjacent stack memory, including the saved return address and structured exception handlers.

Because the overflow occurs on the stack, attackers can leverage classic techniques such as return-oriented programming (ROP) to redirect execution. The Solid Edge process runs in the user's session, so any code executed inherits the user's privileges and access to local CAD project files, network shares, and signing materials.

Root Cause

The defect is categorized as [CWE-121]. The parser does not validate the length of attacker-controlled fields in the CFG file before performing a stack copy. This missing input validation allows the overflow to reach control-flow data on the stack.

Attack Vector

Exploitation requires local file access and user interaction. An attacker must deliver a malicious CFG file to the victim through email, a shared engineering repository, a USB drive, or a compromised supply-chain channel. The victim must then open or import the file in Solid Edge SE2025. No network exposure is required, and authentication to the host is not necessary beyond the victim's existing session. No verified public proof-of-concept code is available, and Siemens describes the impact in Siemens Security Advisory SSA-091753.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-40741

Indicators of Compromise

• Unexpected CFG files arriving via email, instant messaging, or shared CAD repositories from untrusted sources.
• Crashes or unexpected termination of the Solid Edge process (Edge.exe) shortly after opening configuration files.
• Child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe spawned by Solid Edge, which is not normal behavior for a CAD application.
• Outbound network connections from the Solid Edge process to non-Siemens infrastructure.

Detection Strategies

• Hunt endpoint telemetry for Solid Edge processes spawning script interpreters or shells, a strong signal of post-exploitation activity.
• Monitor Windows Error Reporting and crash dumps for Edge.exe faults referencing access violations in CFG parsing modules.
• Inspect file-write events that create CFG files in directories monitored by Solid Edge, particularly when written by browsers, mail clients, or archive utilities.

Monitoring Recommendations

• Enable EDR process-lineage logging on engineering workstations that run Solid Edge SE2025.
• Forward Solid Edge application crash events and Sysmon process-creation events to a central SIEM for correlation.
• Alert on anomalous reads of CAD intellectual property or signing keys following a Solid Edge crash event.

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-40741

Immediate Actions Required

• Upgrade Siemens Solid Edge SE2025 to V225.0 Update 5 or later on all engineering workstations.
• Inventory hosts running vulnerable Solid Edge builds using software asset management or endpoint telemetry.
• Instruct CAD users to refuse CFG files from untrusted or unexpected sources until patching is complete.

Patch Information

Siemens has released V225.0 Update 5, which addresses the stack-based buffer overflow in the CFG parser. Refer to Siemens Security Advisory SSA-091753 for download instructions and integrity hashes.

Workarounds

• Only open CFG files received from trusted internal sources and verified Siemens partners.
• Apply application allowlisting to restrict where Solid Edge can load configuration files from on the workstation.
• Run Solid Edge under standard user accounts rather than administrative accounts to limit the blast radius of successful exploitation.
• Segment engineering workstations from general corporate networks to contain post-exploitation movement.

# Configuration example: PowerShell inventory query to identify vulnerable Solid Edge installations
Get-CimInstance -ClassName Win32_Product |
  Where-Object { $_.Name -like 'Solid Edge*' } |
  Select-Object Name, Version, InstallDate |
  Where-Object { $_.Version -lt '225.0.5' }