CVE-2025-53772 is a critical security vulnerability identified in Microsoft Web Deploy 4.0, specifically version 10.0.2000. The vulnerability is classified under CWE-502, which pertains to the deserialization of untrusted data. Deserialization vulnerabilities occur when an application deserializes data from an untrusted source without sufficient validation, allowing attackers to manipulate the serialized data to execute arbitrary code. In this case, the flaw exists within the Web Deploy service, a Microsoft tool used for simplifying the deployment of web applications and websites to IIS web servers. The vulnerability allows an attacker with authorized access (low privilege) to send specially crafted serialized data over the network to the Web Deploy service, resulting in remote code execution (RCE). The CVSS v3.1 base score is 8.8, indicating a high severity level. The vector string (AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) highlights that the attack can be performed remotely over the network with low attack complexity, requiring only low privileges and no user interaction. Successful exploitation compromises confidentiality, integrity, and availability, enabling full control over the affected system. No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no official patches have been linked yet, though the vulnerability was published on August 12, 2025. Given the nature of Web Deploy as a deployment tool often used in enterprise environments, this vulnerability poses a significant risk to organizations relying on Microsoft IIS web infrastructure for application deployment and management.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-53772 can be substantial. Many enterprises and public sector entities across Europe utilize Microsoft IIS and Web Deploy for managing web applications, making them potential targets. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized remote code execution, allowing attackers to deploy malware, steal sensitive data, disrupt services, or pivot within the network. This could affect critical infrastructure, financial institutions, healthcare providers, and government agencies, potentially leading to data breaches, service outages, and regulatory non-compliance under GDPR. The vulnerability’s requirement for low privilege access means that even compromised or insider accounts with limited rights could be leveraged to escalate attacks. The absence of user interaction lowers the barrier for automated exploitation once an attacker gains initial access. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability underscores the threat to business continuity and data protection obligations in Europe.

To mitigate CVE-2025-53772, European organizations should: 1) Immediately inventory and identify all instances of Microsoft Web Deploy 4.0 version 10.0.2000 in their environments. 2) Apply any available patches or updates from Microsoft as soon as they are released. In the absence of official patches, consider temporarily disabling or restricting access to the Web Deploy service to trusted administrators only. 3) Implement strict network segmentation and firewall rules to limit access to Web Deploy endpoints, allowing only authorized management systems and personnel. 4) Enforce the principle of least privilege for accounts with access to Web Deploy, ensuring that only necessary users have deployment rights. 5) Monitor logs and network traffic for unusual activity related to Web Deploy, such as unexpected serialized data or unauthorized deployment attempts. 6) Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to detect and block suspicious code execution. 7) Conduct security awareness training for administrators to recognize potential exploitation attempts. 8) Prepare incident response plans specifically addressing potential exploitation of deserialization vulnerabilities in deployment tools.