dbcve.org
Process OptimizationApplication · Aveva

CVE-2025-65117

HIGH · 7.7 CVSS v3.1 Published 2026-01-16
Fix available
A fix is available. Upgrade to 2025 or later.
See remediation →
77/100
Remediation priority · High

Official description Straight from the sourceThe vendor's or NVD's own wording, published unedited. Authoritative, but often terse — it says what broke, rarely what to do.

NVD · unedited
The vulnerability, if exploited, could allow an authenticated miscreant (Process Optimization Designer User) to embed OLE objects into graphics, and escalate their privileges to the identity of a victim user who subsequently interacts with the graphical elements.

Technical summary Written by usOur analysis, written from the advisory, the CVSS vector and the affected-version data. It adds context the advisory leaves out, and never invents facts that are not in the source.

dbcve analysis · moderate confidence

An authenticated Process Optimization Designer User can embed OLE (Object Linking and Embedding) objects into graphics within the application. When other users subsequently interact with these compromised graphical elements, the attacker's code executes in the context of the victim's user identity, enabling privilege escalation.

MitigationRestrict or disable OLE object embedding capabilities in graphics for Designer users until a vendor patch is available. Implement strict input validation on all graphical content and consider application-level sandboxing for OLE handling.

Verify against the referenced sources before acting — the references below are authoritative for this CVE, this summary is not.

Affected products & versions What the vendor confirmedThe version ranges the vendor confirmed as vulnerable. If your version sits inside a range here, treat yourself as exposed until you have upgraded.

NVD · CPE data
Process OptimizationApplication
Affected:< 2025

CVSS breakdown How the score is builtThe industry scoring standard. It rates how the flaw is reached, what it takes to exploit, and what an attacker gains — the score is derived from those, not the other way round.

From the vector
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
High
User interaction
Required
Scope
Changed
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

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

Am I affected? How to checkSteps we derive from the advisory and the affected-version data, so you can decide whether this CVE reaches your setup. They are a guide, not a scan — your own configuration is the authority.

dbcve checks

Work through these to decide whether this CVE applies to you.

  1. Identify installed Aveva Process Optimization version
    Check the application version through the software itself (Help > About) or Windows installed programs list (Programs and Features). Compare against the affected version range (any version < 2025).
    Affected if The installed version is Aveva Process Optimization and the version number is less than 2025.
  2. Determine if Designer role is in use
    Check the user's role/privilege level within the Aveva Process Optimization application. Look for users assigned to the 'Designer' or 'Process Optimization Designer User' role in the application user management or Active Directory group membership if integrated.
    Affected if Users with Designer-level privileges exist in the system, as this role can embed OLE objects into graphics.
  3. Verify OLE embedding is permitted in graphics configuration
    Examine the application's configuration settings or registry for OLE object embedding permissions. Check application settings related to graphics, objects, or embedding capabilities. Look for settings that control whether OLE objects can be inserted into graphic displays.
    Affected if OLE object embedding is allowed or not explicitly disabled in the application configuration for graphic elements.
  4. Inspect graphics for embedded OLE objects
    Review existing graphic displays and templates in the Aveva Process Optimization system. Access the graphic editor/designer view and inspect graphics for any embedded OLE objects. Check the source or properties of graphical elements for OLE content.
    Affected if Any graphics contain embedded OLE objects that were not created by the current user or that appear suspicious.

You are affected if Aveva Process Optimization version is less than 2025, Designer users exist in the system, OLE embedding is not disabled, and there are graphics containing embedded OLE objects or the configuration permits OLE embedding.

Generated from the published advisory. Verify against your own configuration.

Check your environment

Paste your version and any relevant configuration and it will be compared against the affected criteria above. Do not include secrets or credentials.

AI-assisted, checked against the advisory. Informational, not a guarantee.

Remediation Closing itWhat it takes to close this. Where a vendor fix exists we point at it; where none exists we say so plainly, and can build one. Effort estimates are scoped from the advisory, not from your codebase.

dbcve · scoped
Upgrade available Upgrade to 2025 or later
Fixed in 2025
Interim mitigation

Restrict or disable OLE object embedding capabilities in graphics for Designer users until a vendor patch is available. Implement strict input validation on all graphical content and consider application-level sandboxing for OLE handling.

Recommended fix Moderate confidence

AVEVA Process Optimization 2025

  1. Identify current Process Optimization version via AVEVA administrative console or installed programs list
  2. Review AVEVA Process Optimization 2025 release notes for upgrade requirements and prerequisites
  3. Create complete backup of current Process Optimization project files and configuration database
  4. Stop all Process Optimization services and dependent applications
  5. Run AVEVA installer to upgrade to version 2025 or later
  6. Restore project files and configuration from backup if needed
  7. Start Process Optimization services and verify application functionality
  8. Test that Designer User privileges work correctly and OLE object embedding is restricted per 2025 security model
Caveat Review 2025 release notes for any deprecated features or configuration changes; some legacy OLE embedding behaviors may have been intentionally restricted

Generated from the published advisory — verify against the referenced sources before acting.

Fix this in Process Optimization Scoped from the published advisory
  • Consultation4.0 h
  • Implementation12.0 h
  • Testing8.0 h
  • Review / QA4.0 h
28.0 hours of engineering $4,880
Get the upgrade done

An estimate, not a bill — we confirm scope with you before any work starts. Need it this week? Rush from $7,808.

Scan for this in your stack

Free · runs locally
dbcve dependency scanner

Check whether your project pulls in CVE-2025-65117 — or any other known-vulnerable package — straight from your lock files. Free and open source; it runs locally and uploads nothing.

Get it on GitHub Scan in the browser

References Go to the primary sourcePrimary sources — vendor advisories, patches and trackers. Where our summary and a reference disagree, the reference wins.

Primary sources

Practitioner notes

Contributed

Peer-ranked notes from engineers who’ve handled CVE-2025-65117 in production — separate from our analysis above.

No notes yet

Be the first to add a field note for this CVE — a mitigation you’ve verified, a version caveat, or a link to a working fix. Sign in above to contribute.

What this is

A place for practitioners to share what actually worked: a mitigation you’ve tested, a configuration change, a version- or environment-specific caveat, or a link to a verified patch. The most useful notes rise to the top as peers upvote them, so the signal stays high.

What belongs here
  • Verified mitigations, workarounds, and config changes
  • Version or environment caveats, and links to real fixes
  • No weaponised exploit code, or anything meant to cause harm
  • No spam, self-promotion, credentials, or personal data