CVE-2025-47167 is a high-severity vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office 2019 (version 19.0.0) characterized as a type confusion flaw (CWE-843). Type confusion occurs when a program accesses a resource using an incompatible type, leading to unexpected behavior. In this case, the vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to execute arbitrary code locally on the affected system without requiring any user interaction or privileges. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.4, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The attack vector is local (AV:L), meaning the attacker must have local access to the system, but no privileges (PR:N) or user interaction (UI:N) are required, which increases the risk if local access is obtained. Exploitation could lead to full system compromise, including data theft, system manipulation, or denial of service. Although no known exploits are currently in the wild, the vulnerability’s presence in a widely used productivity suite makes it a significant concern. The lack of available patches at the time of publication further elevates the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability’s root cause lies in improper handling of resource types within Microsoft Office, which can be exploited to execute arbitrary code by manipulating internal data structures or memory. This flaw could be triggered by specially crafted Office documents or components, potentially delivered via local means such as USB drives, shared folders, or insider threats.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47167 is substantial due to the widespread use of Microsoft Office 2019 across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, enabling attackers to access sensitive data, disrupt business operations, or establish persistence within networks. Confidentiality breaches could expose personal data protected under GDPR, leading to regulatory penalties and reputational damage. Integrity and availability impacts could disrupt workflows, causing financial losses and operational downtime. Since the vulnerability requires local access, insider threats or compromised endpoints become primary risk vectors. The lack of user interaction requirement means automated or stealthy exploitation is feasible once local access is gained. European organizations with distributed workforces and remote access solutions may face increased exposure if endpoint security is insufficient. Additionally, sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which rely heavily on Office documents for daily operations, are at heightened risk of targeted attacks leveraging this vulnerability.

1. Immediate implementation of strict access controls to limit local access to systems running Microsoft Office 2019, including enforcing least privilege principles and robust endpoint security measures. 2. Deploy application whitelisting and behavior monitoring tools to detect anomalous Office process activities indicative of exploitation attempts. 3. Restrict use of removable media and network shares to reduce the risk of malicious document introduction. 4. Conduct thorough audits of user privileges and remove unnecessary local access rights, especially for non-administrative users. 5. Prepare for rapid deployment of patches or updates from Microsoft once available; in the interim, consider disabling or restricting features in Office that handle untrusted documents or embedded content. 6. Enhance user training focused on recognizing suspicious local activities and reporting potential insider threats. 7. Utilize endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of identifying exploitation behaviors related to type confusion vulnerabilities. 8. Implement network segmentation to contain potential compromises originating from exploited endpoints. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on controlling local access vectors, monitoring for exploitation-specific behaviors, and preparing for patch deployment.