CVE-2025-53732 is a high-severity heap-based buffer overflow vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office for Android, specifically affecting version 16.0.1. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-122, which involves improper handling of memory buffers on the heap, leading to potential overwriting of adjacent memory. This flaw allows an unauthorized attacker to execute arbitrary code locally on the affected device. The attack vector requires local access (AV:L), no privileges (PR:N), but does require user interaction (UI:R), such as opening a malicious document or triggering a crafted input within the Office app. The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), meaning an attacker could gain control over the application or device, potentially leading to data theft, corruption, or denial of service. The CVSS 3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting the significant risk posed by this vulnerability. Although no known exploits are currently observed in the wild, the lack of an available patch at the time of publication increases the urgency for mitigation. The vulnerability is particularly critical because Microsoft Office for Android is widely used for productivity and document handling, and exploitation could compromise sensitive corporate or personal data on mobile devices.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk due to the widespread use of Microsoft Office on Android devices for business communications and document management. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution on employees' mobile devices, potentially allowing attackers to access confidential corporate data, intellectual property, or personal information protected under GDPR. The compromise of mobile endpoints could also serve as a foothold for lateral movement within enterprise networks, increasing the risk of broader breaches. Additionally, disruption of availability could impact business continuity, especially for organizations relying heavily on mobile productivity tools. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, government, and critical infrastructure are particularly vulnerable to operational and reputational damage.

European organizations should implement a multi-layered mitigation strategy beyond generic patching advice. First, enforce strict mobile device management (MDM) policies to control application versions and restrict installation of untrusted apps. Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing to limit the execution context of Microsoft Office for Android. Educate users to avoid opening suspicious or unsolicited documents, especially from unknown sources, to reduce the risk of triggering the vulnerability. Monitor mobile endpoints for unusual behavior indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected crashes or privilege escalations. Network segmentation should be applied to isolate mobile devices from critical backend systems. Until an official patch is released, consider temporarily restricting the use of Microsoft Office for Android on high-risk or sensitive devices. Finally, maintain up-to-date threat intelligence feeds to quickly respond to any emerging exploit activity related to this CVE.