CVE-2025-24083 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office 2019 (version 19.0.0) characterized as an untrusted pointer dereference (CWE-822). This vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally on the affected system. The flaw arises from improper handling of pointers within Microsoft Office, where dereferencing untrusted pointers can lead to memory corruption. Exploiting this vulnerability requires user interaction, such as opening a maliciously crafted Office document, and no prior privileges are needed. Successful exploitation can result in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the local system, enabling arbitrary code execution under the context of the user. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting the high impact and relatively low complexity of exploitation. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and should be treated with urgency. The vulnerability scope is unchanged, meaning the impact is limited to the local system where the vulnerable Office version is installed. The vulnerability is particularly concerning given the widespread use of Microsoft Office 2019 in enterprise environments, making it a significant risk vector for local privilege escalation and lateral movement if combined with other attack vectors.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-24083 is substantial due to the extensive deployment of Microsoft Office 2019 across corporate, governmental, and educational institutions. Exploitation can lead to unauthorized code execution, potentially allowing attackers to steal sensitive data, disrupt business operations, or establish persistent footholds within networks. The requirement for user interaction (e.g., opening a malicious document) aligns with common phishing attack vectors, which remain prevalent in Europe. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impacts, organizations handling sensitive personal data under GDPR could face regulatory and reputational consequences if exploited. Additionally, sectors such as finance, healthcare, and critical infrastructure in Europe are particularly vulnerable due to their reliance on Microsoft Office and the critical nature of their data and services. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the public disclosure increases the risk of future exploitation attempts.

European organizations should prioritize the following mitigation steps: 1) Immediate deployment of any available patches or security updates from Microsoft for Office 2019; if patches are not yet released, apply temporary workarounds such as disabling macros and restricting the opening of Office documents from untrusted sources. 2) Implement strict email filtering and attachment scanning to reduce the likelihood of malicious documents reaching end users. 3) Conduct targeted user awareness training focusing on the risks of opening unsolicited or suspicious Office documents. 4) Employ application control or whitelisting solutions to limit execution of unauthorized code. 5) Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to monitor for suspicious behaviors indicative of exploitation attempts. 6) Enforce the principle of least privilege to minimize the impact of local code execution. 7) Regularly audit and update security policies related to document handling and user permissions. These measures, combined, reduce the attack surface and improve detection and response capabilities against exploitation of this vulnerability.