CVE-2025-49464 is a classic buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Zoom Communications Inc.'s Zoom Clients for Windows. This vulnerability is categorized under CWE-120, which involves buffer copy operations without proper size checking of the input data. Specifically, the flaw exists in certain Zoom client versions for Windows, allowing an authorized user with network access to trigger a denial of service (DoS) condition. The vulnerability arises because the application does not adequately validate the size of input data before copying it into a buffer, leading to memory corruption. Exploitation of this flaw does not require user interaction but does require the attacker to have some level of privileges (PR:L - privileges required: low) and network access (AV:N - attack vector: network). The vulnerability impacts availability (A:H) but does not affect confidentiality or integrity. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 6.5, indicating a medium severity level. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet. The vulnerability was reserved in early June 2025 and published in July 2025. Given Zoom's widespread use in enterprise and personal environments, this vulnerability could be leveraged to disrupt communications by causing client crashes or service interruptions during meetings or calls, potentially impacting business continuity and user experience.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-49464 could be significant, especially for those relying heavily on Zoom for remote collaboration, virtual meetings, and communication. A successful exploitation could lead to denial of service on affected Zoom clients, causing interruptions in critical communications and collaboration workflows. This could affect sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and education, where Zoom is commonly used. The disruption could result in lost productivity, delayed decision-making, and potential reputational damage. While the vulnerability does not compromise confidentiality or integrity, the availability impact alone can be critical in time-sensitive or mission-critical environments. Additionally, organizations with strict compliance requirements around service availability and incident response may face regulatory scrutiny if such disruptions occur. Since exploitation requires only low privileges and network access, insider threats or compromised internal systems could be leveraged to trigger the DoS condition, increasing the risk within corporate networks.

To mitigate this vulnerability, European organizations should prioritize the following actions: 1) Monitor Zoom Communications Inc. for official patches or updates addressing CVE-2025-49464 and apply them promptly once available. 2) Implement network segmentation and access controls to limit which users and devices can communicate with Zoom clients, reducing the attack surface. 3) Enforce the principle of least privilege to ensure users have only the necessary permissions, minimizing the risk of authorized users exploiting the vulnerability. 4) Deploy endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting anomalous application crashes or memory corruption events related to Zoom clients. 5) Educate users and IT staff about the vulnerability and encourage reporting of unusual Zoom client behavior or crashes. 6) Consider temporary workarounds such as restricting Zoom client usage to versions not affected if feasible, or using alternative communication platforms until a patch is available. 7) Maintain robust incident response plans to quickly address any denial of service incidents impacting communication tools. These measures go beyond generic advice by focusing on access control, monitoring, user privilege management, and proactive patch management tailored to this specific vulnerability.