CVE-2025-24080 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 affecting Microsoft Office 2019 version 19.0.0. This vulnerability arises from improper handling of memory where a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior. In this case, an attacker can exploit this flaw to execute arbitrary code locally on the victim’s machine. The attack vector requires local access and user interaction, such as opening a malicious document, but does not require any prior privileges or authentication. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability, allowing an attacker to potentially take full control of the affected system. Although no exploits have been observed in the wild yet, the vulnerability’s nature and the widespread use of Microsoft Office make it a critical concern. The CVSS 3.1 score of 7.8 indicates high severity, with low attack complexity and no privileges required, but user interaction is necessary. The vulnerability was reserved in January 2025 and published in March 2025, with no patches currently linked, suggesting that organizations should monitor for updates closely. The flaw could be triggered by crafted Office documents that, when opened, cause the use-after-free condition, enabling code execution. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in environments where Office documents are frequently exchanged, such as corporate and governmental sectors.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24080 is significant due to the widespread use of Microsoft Office 2019 in business, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation can lead to local privilege escalation, data theft, ransomware deployment, or system disruption. Confidentiality breaches could expose sensitive corporate or personal data, while integrity compromises could allow attackers to alter documents or system configurations undetected. Availability impacts could result from system crashes or malware-induced outages. Given that exploitation requires user interaction, phishing or social engineering campaigns could be used to deliver malicious documents. The vulnerability poses a high risk to sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and manufacturing, where document workflows are integral. The lack of known exploits in the wild currently reduces immediate risk but does not eliminate the threat, especially as attackers often develop exploits rapidly after disclosure. European organizations with less mature patch management or endpoint security controls are particularly vulnerable.

Organizations should prioritize the following specific mitigations: 1) Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply patches for Office 2019 version 19.0.0 immediately upon release. 2) Implement strict controls on document sources, including disabling macros and ActiveX controls by default, and enabling Protected View for documents from untrusted sources. 3) Employ advanced endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous memory usage and suspicious process behaviors indicative of use-after-free exploitation. 4) Conduct user awareness training focused on phishing and social engineering risks associated with opening unsolicited or suspicious Office documents. 5) Use application whitelisting to restrict execution of unauthorized binaries and scripts. 6) Regularly audit and restrict local user permissions to minimize the impact of local code execution. 7) Consider network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a local compromise occurs. These measures, combined with timely patching, will significantly reduce the risk posed by this vulnerability.