CVE-2025-49741 is a high-severity vulnerability affecting Microsoft Edge (Chromium-based), specifically version 1.0.0.0. The vulnerability is categorized under CWE-268 (Privilege Chaining) and CWE-200 (Information Exposure). It allows an unauthorized attacker to disclose sensitive information over a network without requiring prior authentication, although user interaction is necessary to trigger the exploit. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.4, reflecting a high impact primarily on confidentiality, with no impact on integrity or availability. The attack vector is network-based (AV:N), and the attack complexity is low (AC:L), meaning the exploit does not require specialized conditions beyond user interaction. The scope is changed (S:C), indicating that the vulnerability affects resources beyond the initially vulnerable component, potentially allowing information disclosure across security boundaries within the browser or between browser and system components. The vulnerability does not require privileges (PR:N) but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as visiting a malicious website or opening crafted content. The exploitability is currently theoretical, with no known exploits in the wild. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may not yet be publicly available or is pending release. Technically, the flaw arises from improper privilege chaining within the browser, enabling an attacker to escalate privileges in a way that leads to unauthorized information disclosure. This could involve leveraging browser features or inter-process communication mechanisms to bypass security controls and leak sensitive data over the network. Given the Chromium base, the vulnerability might be related to how Edge integrates Chromium components with Microsoft-specific extensions or security boundaries.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to confidentiality of sensitive data accessed or processed via Microsoft Edge. Since the exploit can be triggered remotely over the network with only user interaction, employees visiting malicious or compromised websites could inadvertently expose confidential corporate or personal information. This is particularly critical for sectors handling sensitive data such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure. The information disclosure could lead to data breaches, intellectual property theft, or leakage of personal data protected under GDPR, resulting in regulatory penalties and reputational damage. The vulnerability does not affect system integrity or availability directly, but the confidentiality breach alone can have cascading effects on trust and operational security. Organizations relying heavily on Microsoft Edge as a primary browser are at higher risk, especially if users are not trained to recognize phishing or social engineering attempts that could trigger the exploit. The lack of a current patch means organizations must implement interim mitigations to reduce exposure.

1. Restrict usage of Microsoft Edge version 1.0.0.0 until a security patch is released. Consider temporarily switching to alternative browsers with no known vulnerabilities of this nature. 2. Implement strict network-level filtering to block access to known malicious domains and URLs that could host exploit payloads. 3. Enforce robust endpoint protection solutions capable of detecting and blocking suspicious browser behaviors or network exfiltration attempts. 4. Educate users about the risks of interacting with untrusted websites and the importance of cautious browsing habits to minimize user interaction triggers. 5. Utilize application control policies (e.g., via Microsoft Endpoint Manager or Group Policy) to restrict execution of untrusted scripts or extensions within Edge. 6. Monitor network traffic for unusual outbound connections or data flows originating from endpoints running the vulnerable Edge version. 7. Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches by maintaining up-to-date asset inventories and patch management processes focused on browser updates. 8. Consider deploying browser isolation or sandboxing technologies to contain potential exploitation attempts and limit data exposure.