CVE-2025-61692: Keyence VT Studio Use After Free Flaw

CVE-2025-61692 Overview

CVE-2025-61692 is a use-after-free vulnerability in Keyence VT STUDIO versions 8.53 and earlier. The flaw allows arbitrary code execution when the application processes a specially crafted project file. Exploitation requires local access and user interaction, typically achieved by convincing an engineer or operator to open a malicious file.

VT STUDIO is programming software used to develop human-machine interface (HMI) applications for Keyence VT-series touch panels. Compromise of engineering workstations running VT STUDIO can provide attackers with a foothold into operational technology (OT) environments.

Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows arbitrary code execution in the context of the VT STUDIO user, enabling attackers to compromise engineering workstations that program industrial HMI devices.

Affected Products

Keyence VT STUDIO version 8.53
Keyence VT STUDIO all prior 8.x releases
Engineering workstations used to develop VT-series HMI projects

Discovery Timeline

2025-10-02 - CVE-2025-61692 published to NVD
2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database

Technical Details for CVE-2025-61692

Vulnerability Analysis

The vulnerability is classified as a use-after-free condition [CWE-416]. VT STUDIO releases a memory allocation while retaining a reference to that memory. Subsequent operations dereference the stale pointer, allowing an attacker to influence execution flow when the freed region is reallocated with attacker-controlled data.

Exploitation requires the victim to open a crafted VT STUDIO project file. Because VT STUDIO parses complex proprietary file structures, the attack surface for memory-safety flaws is broad. Files can be delivered through email, shared engineering repositories, USB media, or compromised vendor distribution channels.

Successful exploitation executes code with the privileges of the local user running VT STUDIO. In OT environments these workstations often hold credentials, network access, and project files for downstream HMI devices and controllers.

Root Cause

The root cause is improper lifetime management of a heap-allocated object during file parsing. Code paths that free the object do not clear or invalidate all references, and later code reuses the dangling pointer. Keyence has not published low-level technical details of the affected component.

Attack Vector

The attack vector is local and requires user interaction. An attacker crafts a malicious .vt or associated project file and delivers it to a target engineer. When the file is opened in VT STUDIO 8.53 or earlier, the parser triggers the use-after-free and executes attacker-supplied shellcode or ROP chain payload.

See the JVN Security Vulnerability Report and Keyence Vulnerability Advisory for vendor-published details.

Detection Methods for CVE-2025-61692

Indicators of Compromise

Unexpected VT STUDIO process crashes or abnormal termination during project file open operations
VT STUDIO spawning child processes such as cmd.exe, powershell.exe, or rundll32.exe
VT STUDIO project files arriving from untrusted email senders, external USB media, or non-corporate file shares
Outbound network connections from engineering workstations to unfamiliar destinations following file open events

Detection Strategies

Monitor process creation events where the parent process is VTStudio.exe and the child is a shell, script interpreter, or LOLBin
Alert on VT STUDIO loading DLLs from user-writable directories such as %TEMP% or %APPDATA%
Track file writes to autostart locations originating from VT STUDIO or its child processes
Use endpoint detection tooling to flag anomalous memory allocations and RWX regions inside the VT STUDIO process

Monitoring Recommendations

Enable Windows Defender Exploit Guard or equivalent to log exploit-mitigation events on engineering workstations
Forward endpoint telemetry from OT engineering hosts to a central SIEM for correlation with email and USB events
Audit which users have VT STUDIO installed and review inbound file transfers to those hosts

How to Mitigate CVE-2025-61692

Immediate Actions Required

Upgrade VT STUDIO to a version later than 8.53 as directed in the Keyence advisory
Restrict VT STUDIO installations to systems that require it and remove it from general-purpose workstations
Instruct engineers to open project files only from trusted, verified sources
Apply application allowlisting to prevent VT STUDIO from spawning shells or script interpreters

Patch Information

Keyence has published an advisory at Keyence Vulnerability Advisory with instructions to obtain the fixed release. Contact Keyence support to acquire the updated VT STUDIO installer, since distribution is handled through the vendor rather than a public download portal.

Workarounds

Do not open VT STUDIO project files received from untrusted or unverified sources
Segment engineering workstations from general corporate email and internet access
Enable Data Execution Prevention (DEP) and Address Space Layout Randomization (ASLR) system-wide on hosts running VT STUDIO
Store project files in a controlled repository with integrity verification before use

bash

# Verify VT STUDIO version on a Windows engineering workstation
powershell -Command "Get-ItemProperty 'HKLM:\Software\WOW6432Node\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Uninstall\*' | Where-Object { $_.DisplayName -like 'VT STUDIO*' } | Select-Object DisplayName, DisplayVersion"