PSIRT Advisory – ASA-0004

CVE ID: CVE-2025-14596

A potential security vulnerability in Quartus Prime Pro Edition Installer (SFX) for Windows may allow escalation of privilege.

Vulnerability Details:
The Quartus Prime Pro Edition Installer (SFX) for Windows is vulnerable to a binary planting attack. The Linux version is not affected.

Mitigations and Recommendations:
Altera recommends using the Quartus 25.1 Pro Edition installer or later. For older Quartus Prime Pro versions, downloading the individual installation files directly from the download page avoids the problem. Individual installer files are not affected.

Description/CWE: CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element

CVSS Base Score 6.7 Severity Medium

CVSS Vector 3.1: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS Base Score 4.0: 5.4 Medium CVSS

Vector 4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVE ID: CVE-2025-14605

A potential security vulnerability in the System Console utility included in the Quartus Prime Pro Edition for Windows may allow escalation of privilege.

Vulnerability Details:
The System Console utility included in the Quartus Prime Pro Edition for Windows is vulnerable to a Current Working Directory (CWD) planting attack. The Linux version is not affected. The System Console utility included in the Quartus Prime Pro Edition Programmer and Tools for Windows is also affected.

Mitigations and Recommendations:
Altera recommends using the System Console utility included in Quartus 25.1.1 Pro Edition or later, or the one included in Quartus Prime Pro Edition Programmer and Tools 25.1.1 or later.

Description/CWE: CWE-427: Uncontrolled Search Path Element

CVSS Base Score 6.7 Severity Medium

CVSS Vector 3.1: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS Base Score 4.0: 5.4 Medium CVSS

Vector 4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

CVE ID: CVE-2025-14612

A potential security vulnerability in Quartus Prime Pro Edition Installer (SFX) for Windows may allow escalation of privilege.

Vulnerability Details:
The Quartus Prime Pro Edition Installer (SFX) for Windows is vulnerable to a binary planting attack. The Linux version is not affected.

Mitigations and Recommendations:
Altera recommends using the Quartus 25.3 Pro Edition installer or later. For older Quartus Prime Pro versions, downloading the individual installation files directly from the download page avoids the problem. Individual installer files are not affected.

Description/CWE: CWE-377: Insecure Temporary File

CVSS Base Score 6.7 Severity Medium

CVSS Vector 3.1: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS Base Score 4.0: 5.4 Medium CVSS

Vector 4.0: CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:H/AT:P/PR:L/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N

Acknowledgements:
Altera would like to thank sim0nleehkhk (CVE-2025-14596) for reporting this issue.

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