CVE-2025-47966 is a critical vulnerability identified in Microsoft Power Automate for Desktop, categorized under CWE-200, which pertains to the exposure of sensitive information to unauthorized actors. This vulnerability allows an attacker to gain unauthorized access to sensitive data within the Power Automate environment without requiring any privileges or user interaction. The CVSS v3.1 base score of 9.8 reflects the severity and ease of exploitation, with an attack vector over the network (AV:N), no required privileges (PR:N), and no user interaction (UI:N). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (C:H/I:H/A:H), indicating that an attacker can not only access sensitive information but also potentially elevate privileges and disrupt services. Although specific affected versions are not listed, the vulnerability is confirmed to be present in Microsoft Power Automate for Desktop, a widely used automation tool in enterprise environments. The lack of known exploits in the wild suggests that this vulnerability has been recently disclosed, but the critical nature demands immediate attention. The exposure of sensitive information could include credentials, automation scripts, or configuration data, which an attacker could leverage to escalate privileges and move laterally within a network, potentially compromising broader organizational assets.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-47966 is significant due to the widespread adoption of Microsoft Power Automate for Desktop in automating business processes across various sectors such as finance, manufacturing, and public administration. Unauthorized exposure of sensitive information can lead to data breaches involving personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in legal penalties and reputational damage. The ability for an attacker to elevate privileges over the network increases the risk of ransomware attacks, data manipulation, and service disruption. Organizations relying heavily on automated workflows may experience operational downtime, impacting productivity and service delivery. Furthermore, the breach of sensitive automation scripts or credentials could facilitate further attacks on connected systems, amplifying the threat. Given the critical severity and network-based exploitability without user interaction, European entities face a high risk of targeted attacks, especially those in regulated industries or with critical infrastructure dependencies.

To mitigate CVE-2025-47966 effectively, European organizations should implement a multi-layered approach: 1) Immediately apply any available patches or updates from Microsoft once released; monitor official Microsoft security advisories closely. 2) Restrict network access to Power Automate for Desktop management interfaces using network segmentation and firewall rules to limit exposure to trusted hosts only. 3) Enforce strict access controls and least privilege principles on accounts used with Power Automate to minimize potential damage from compromised credentials. 4) Conduct thorough audits of existing automation workflows and sensitive data stored or processed by Power Automate to identify and secure critical assets. 5) Implement robust monitoring and anomaly detection to identify unusual access patterns or privilege escalations related to Power Automate usage. 6) Educate IT and security teams about this vulnerability to ensure rapid response capabilities. 7) Consider deploying endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect exploitation attempts and lateral movement. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on network-level controls, access management, and proactive monitoring tailored to the specific threat vector presented by this vulnerability.