Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
A specially crafted DWG file can trigger memory-reading errors in Autodesk Navisworks 2019, 2020, 2021, and 2022. The CVE states this can lead to arbitrary code execution, so the main business risk is compromise through users opening or processing hostile design files.
Executive priority
Treat this as high priority for engineering, construction, or BIM teams exchanging DWG files externally. Urgency depends on whether affected Navisworks versions are deployed and whether users handle untrusted files.
Technical view
The vulnerability is an out-of-bounds read during DWG parsing in affected Autodesk Navisworks versions. The public CVE description says exploitation can execute arbitrary code. The source bundle does not provide CVSS, CWE, fixed build details, or public exploit evidence.
Likely exposure
Exposure is most likely in organizations using Autodesk Navisworks 2019-2022 where DWG files are opened, reviewed, imported, or exchanged with external parties.
Exploitation context
The bundle does not show CISA KEV listing or active exploitation evidence. Exploitation requires a maliciously crafted DWG file reaching an affected Navisworks workflow.
Researcher notes
Evidence is limited to the CVE description and Autodesk advisory reference. The bundle confirms affected versions and arbitrary-code-execution impact, but not CVSS, root-cause CWE, patched versions, exploit availability, or exploitation in the wild.
Mitigation direction
- Review Autodesk advisory ADSK-SA-2021-0009 for fixed builds or mitigation instructions.
- Prioritize vendor-supported updates for Navisworks 2019-2022 installations.
- Restrict opening DWG files from untrusted or unsolicited sources.
- Use file-handling controls for external design submissions.
- Educate design teams to verify unexpected DWG attachments or transfers.
Validation and detection
- Inventory Autodesk Navisworks installations and identify 2019-2022 versions.
- Confirm whether DWG parsing workflows process files from external parties.
- Check Autodesk advisory ADSK-SA-2021-0009 for applicable remediation status.
- Review endpoint telemetry for suspicious activity after opening unfamiliar DWG files.
- Verify security controls cover design-file email attachments and transfers.
Public sources used
Generated from the cited source records. This long-tail analysis has not been individually reviewed by a named human.
Conservative CVE-to-ATT&CK context
These mappings and lookup hints may be relevant to the vulnerability behavior, CWE, affected product, or exposure path. Glexia-inferred context is not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, CWE, or CVE Program mapping.
ATT&CK lookup starting points
Use these exact CWE pages and searches to review the Glexia ATT&CK library from this CVE's weakness and description context.
Execution behavior lookup
The CVE wording references code or command execution, so execution technique review may help defensive triage. This is a Glexia inferred lookup path, not an official MITRE, ATT&CK, or CVE Program mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupCVE-2021-40155 mapping review
Open the CVE-to-ATT&CK bridge for reviewed, inferred, or future official mappings tied to this CVE.
Open ATT&CK lookup- Severity
- Unknown
- CVSS
- Not scored
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
CNA and ADP enrichment extracted from CVE v5
These fields come from the CVE record and ADP containers, not from Glexia's Take. They preserve time-varying source decisions such as CISA SSVC, KEV status, CVSS metrics, and provider references.
CVSS and timeline data
No CVSS vectors or timeline events were available in the normalized CVE source material.
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.autodesk.com/trust/security-advisories/adsk-sa-2021-0009CVE reference · x_refsource_MISC
Products and packages named in the record
CWE details
CWE links open Glexia weakness intelligence pages with official CWE context, developer remediation guidance, and related CVE mappings.