CVE-2025-49698: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Microsoft Office 2019
Use after free in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
CVE-2025-49698 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office 2019, specifically affecting the Word component version 19.0.0. This vulnerability arises when the application improperly manages memory, allowing an attacker to exploit a dangling pointer after an object has been freed. The flaw can be triggered by opening a specially crafted Word document, which leads to the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication but does require user interaction, such as opening or previewing a malicious document. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with local attack vector and low attack complexity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free), which is a common memory corruption issue that can lead to code execution, crashes, or data corruption. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for exploitation exists given the widespread use of Microsoft Office and the nature of the vulnerability. No patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may rely on workarounds or upcoming updates from Microsoft.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the ubiquitous deployment of Microsoft Office 2019 in enterprise, government, and educational environments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code locally, potentially leading to data theft, installation of persistent malware, or lateral movement within networks. Confidentiality could be severely compromised if sensitive documents or credentials are accessed. Integrity and availability could also be affected if attackers modify or delete critical files or disrupt business operations. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to deliver malicious documents. Given the high reliance on Office productivity tools across Europe, the impact could be widespread, affecting sectors such as finance, healthcare, public administration, and critical infrastructure. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk remains elevated due to the ease of triggering the vulnerability by opening a document.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond generic advice. First, enforce strict email filtering and attachment scanning to block or quarantine suspicious Word documents, especially those from unknown or untrusted sources. Deploy advanced endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting exploitation attempts related to use-after-free vulnerabilities. Disable or restrict the use of macros and embedded content in Office documents where possible. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected attachments and encourage verification of document sources. Utilize application control policies to limit execution of unauthorized code and sandbox Office applications to contain potential exploits. Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Since no official patch is currently available, organizations should stay alert for Microsoft’s security updates and apply them promptly upon release. Additionally, consider implementing network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a compromise occurs.
Affected Countries
Germany, France, United Kingdom, Italy, Spain, Netherlands, Belgium, Sweden, Poland, Ireland
CVE-2025-49698: CWE-416: Use After Free in Microsoft Microsoft Office 2019
Description
Use after free in Microsoft Office Word allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
AI-Powered Analysis
Technical Analysis
CVE-2025-49698 is a high-severity use-after-free vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office 2019, specifically affecting the Word component version 19.0.0. This vulnerability arises when the application improperly manages memory, allowing an attacker to exploit a dangling pointer after an object has been freed. The flaw can be triggered by opening a specially crafted Word document, which leads to the execution of arbitrary code with the privileges of the current user. The vulnerability does not require prior authentication but does require user interaction, such as opening or previewing a malicious document. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 7.8 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with local attack vector and low attack complexity. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-416 (Use After Free), which is a common memory corruption issue that can lead to code execution, crashes, or data corruption. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the potential for exploitation exists given the widespread use of Microsoft Office and the nature of the vulnerability. No patches have been linked yet, indicating that mitigation may rely on workarounds or upcoming updates from Microsoft.
Potential Impact
For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the ubiquitous deployment of Microsoft Office 2019 in enterprise, government, and educational environments. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to execute arbitrary code locally, potentially leading to data theft, installation of persistent malware, or lateral movement within networks. Confidentiality could be severely compromised if sensitive documents or credentials are accessed. Integrity and availability could also be affected if attackers modify or delete critical files or disrupt business operations. The requirement for user interaction means phishing or social engineering campaigns could be leveraged to deliver malicious documents. Given the high reliance on Office productivity tools across Europe, the impact could be widespread, affecting sectors such as finance, healthcare, public administration, and critical infrastructure. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive mitigation, but the risk remains elevated due to the ease of triggering the vulnerability by opening a document.
Mitigation Recommendations
European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond generic advice. First, enforce strict email filtering and attachment scanning to block or quarantine suspicious Word documents, especially those from unknown or untrusted sources. Deploy advanced endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting exploitation attempts related to use-after-free vulnerabilities. Disable or restrict the use of macros and embedded content in Office documents where possible. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected attachments and encourage verification of document sources. Utilize application control policies to limit execution of unauthorized code and sandbox Office applications to contain potential exploits. Monitor network and endpoint logs for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts. Since no official patch is currently available, organizations should stay alert for Microsoft’s security updates and apply them promptly upon release. Additionally, consider implementing network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a compromise occurs.
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Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.1
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2025-06-09T19:59:44.874Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
Threat ID: 686d50d66f40f0eb72f91c4e
Added to database: 7/8/2025, 5:09:42 PM
Last enriched: 8/7/2025, 1:04:46 AM
Last updated: 8/12/2025, 12:33:54 AM
Views: 13
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