Security readout for executives and security teams
Plain-English summary
CVE-2026-0538 affects Autodesk 3ds Max 2026. A specially crafted GIF file can trigger a memory corruption flaw during parsing, potentially allowing code execution inside the 3ds Max process. This is most relevant to design, media, and engineering teams handling external or untrusted image assets.
Executive priority
Prioritize remediation for creative, design, and engineering workstations using 3ds Max 2026, particularly where external assets are common. Treat this as a high-risk workstation code-execution issue, but do not assume active exploitation without further evidence.
Technical view
The issue is an out-of-bounds write, CWE-787, in GIF file parsing in Autodesk 3ds Max 2026. The CVSS 3.1 score is 8.4, with high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact. Autodesk states arbitrary code execution is possible in the context of the current process.
Likely exposure
Organizations are exposed if Autodesk 3ds Max 2026 is installed and used to parse GIF files, especially from third parties, shared asset libraries, clients, or public sources. The provided data lists other versions as unaffected by default.
Exploitation context
The sources do not report active exploitation, and this CVE is not listed as KEV in the provided bundle. Exploitation depends on a maliciously crafted GIF being parsed through affected Autodesk 3ds Max software.
Researcher notes
Key facts are limited to the CVE record and Autodesk advisory references. The vulnerability is CWE-787 in GIF parsing with possible arbitrary code execution. No exploit details, indicators, or confirmed exploitation are provided in the source bundle.
Mitigation direction
- Review Autodesk advisory ADSK-SA-2026-0002 for affected build and update details.
- Apply Autodesk-provided updates using Autodesk Access or the vendor’s documented update process.
- Restrict handling of untrusted GIF assets until affected systems are updated.
- Run 3ds Max with least-privilege user accounts where operationally feasible.
Validation and detection
- Inventory endpoints and workstations running Autodesk 3ds Max 2026.
- Confirm whether installed builds match Autodesk’s affected versions in ADSK-SA-2026-0002.
- Verify Autodesk updates are installed through Autodesk Access or enterprise software management records.
- Check asset intake workflows for untrusted GIF files used with 3ds Max.
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.
CWE-787: Exact CWE lookup
Use the exact CWE identifier as the starting point before reviewing related ATT&CK behavior. Open the exact CWE lookup page first, then review the ATT&CK searches from that MITRE weakness context. This is a Glexia lookup hint, not an official ATT&CK mapping.
Open ATT&CK lookupExecution 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-2026-0538 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
- High
- CVSS
- 8.4 (3.1)
- Known Exploited
- No
- Published
Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
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.
SSVC decision data
CVSS vector scores
1 official scoreWe collect every scored CVSS vector available in the official CNA and ADP containers. When more than one version is present, the table keeps the source vectors side by side instead of collapsing them into the highest score.
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H2.55.9autodeskVulnerability scoring details
Base CVSS 3.1 score
8.4HighVector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Vulnerability timeline
Timeline events are normalized from CVE metadata, CNA source timelines, ADP timelines, and KEV metadata when present.
- CVE reservedCVE Program
The CVE ID was reserved by the assigning CNA.
- CVE publishedCVE Program
The CVE record was published.
- CVE updatedCVE Program
The CVE record metadata indicates this as the latest update time.
ADP provider summaries
Source materials
- CVE List V5 sourceCVE List V5
- https://www.autodesk.com/products/autodesk-access/overviewCVE reference, autodesk · patch
- https://www.autodesk.com/trust/security-advisories/adsk-sa-2026-0002CVE reference, autodesk · vendor-advisory
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.
Out-of-bounds Write
Out-of-bounds Write represents a recurring weakness pattern that can create exploitable paths when design, validation, or implementation controls are missing.