CVE-2025-24077 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability (CWE-416) identified in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, specifically affecting Microsoft Office Word version 16.0.1. This vulnerability arises when the application improperly manages memory, allowing an attacker to reference memory after it has been freed. Exploiting this flaw can enable an unauthorized attacker to execute arbitrary code locally on the affected system. The attack vector requires local access (AV:L), with low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but user interaction is necessary (UI:R). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), indicating that successful exploitation could lead to full system compromise. The scope is unchanged (S:U), meaning the impact is limited to the vulnerable component. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and rated with a CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8, reflecting its significant risk. The lack of available patches at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation. This vulnerability is particularly critical because Microsoft Word is widely used in enterprise environments, and malicious documents could be crafted to trigger the flaw upon opening, potentially leading to widespread local compromise.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24077 could be substantial. Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise is extensively deployed across European businesses, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code on user machines, potentially leading to data breaches, lateral movement within networks, and disruption of business operations. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, sensitive corporate and personal data could be exposed or altered. The requirement for user interaction (opening a malicious document) aligns with common phishing attack vectors, which remain prevalent in Europe. This vulnerability could be leveraged in targeted attacks against high-value sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, where Microsoft Office usage is ubiquitous. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the risk of future exploitation remains significant, especially as threat actors develop weaponized documents.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond generic patching advice. First, immediately apply any available security updates from Microsoft once released. Until patches are available, deploy application control policies to restrict execution of untrusted or unsigned macros and scripts within Office documents. Employ advanced email filtering and sandboxing solutions to detect and block malicious attachments and links. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious documents, emphasizing the need for caution with email attachments. Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for anomalous behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. Consider disabling or restricting the use of legacy Office features that may be exploited in conjunction with this vulnerability. Network segmentation can limit the spread of compromise if exploitation occurs. Finally, maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans tailored to potential local code execution incidents stemming from Office applications.