CVE-2024-38200 is a vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office 2019, specifically version 19.0.0, classified under CWE-200, which pertains to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. The vulnerability is described as a spoofing vulnerability, which typically involves an attacker deceiving the system or user to gain access to information that should remain confidential. In this case, the flaw allows an attacker to expose sensitive data without requiring any privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as opening a malicious document or clicking a link. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), meaning the attacker can exploit the vulnerability remotely over a network. The vulnerability does not impact the integrity or availability of the system but has a high impact on confidentiality (C:H, I:N, A:N). The CVSS 3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in June 2024 and published in August 2024. The exposure of sensitive information could result from crafted Office documents or content that tricks users into revealing data or allows attackers to extract information from the application or system memory. Given the nature of Office 2019 as a widely used productivity suite, this vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted phishing campaigns or spear-phishing attacks to harvest sensitive corporate or personal information.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to the confidentiality of sensitive information, including intellectual property, personal data protected under GDPR, and internal communications. Since Microsoft Office 2019 is extensively used across various sectors such as finance, government, healthcare, and education in Europe, exploitation could lead to unauthorized data disclosure, potentially resulting in regulatory penalties, reputational damage, and loss of competitive advantage. The requirement for user interaction means that social engineering tactics could be employed, increasing the risk in environments where users are not adequately trained to recognize phishing or spoofing attempts. Although the vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability, the confidentiality breach alone can have severe consequences, especially in sectors handling sensitive or classified information. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, as attackers may develop exploits once the vulnerability details become widely known.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered defense strategy beyond generic patching advice. First, they should monitor Microsoft’s security advisories closely for the release of official patches or updates addressing CVE-2024-38200 and prioritize their deployment. Until patches are available, organizations should enhance email and document filtering to detect and block suspicious or spoofed Office documents. User awareness training should be intensified, focusing on recognizing spoofing attempts and avoiding interaction with unsolicited or unexpected Office files. Employing endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions that can identify anomalous behaviors related to document processing can help detect exploitation attempts. Additionally, organizations should enforce the principle of least privilege, ensuring users operate with minimal necessary permissions to reduce potential data exposure. Network segmentation and data loss prevention (DLP) tools can further limit the impact of any data leakage. Finally, organizations should audit and monitor access to sensitive information within Office documents and related systems to detect unusual access patterns promptly.