CVE-2025-53784 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416, found in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise, specifically in Microsoft Word version 16.0.1. Use-after-free vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior that attackers can exploit to execute arbitrary code. This vulnerability allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally without requiring privileges or user interaction, indicating a low barrier to exploitation once local access is obtained. The CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.4 reflects the high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise. The vulnerability was reserved in early July 2025 and published in August 2025, with no public exploits reported yet. The lack of patch links suggests that a fix may still be pending or recently released. Attackers could leverage this flaw to run malicious code, potentially leading to data theft, system manipulation, or denial of service. The vulnerability affects a widely deployed enterprise productivity suite, increasing the risk profile for organizations relying heavily on Microsoft Office tools for document creation and management.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-53784 is significant due to the widespread use of Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise across industries including finance, government, healthcare, and manufacturing. Exploitation could result in unauthorized code execution on user machines, leading to potential data breaches, ransomware deployment, or disruption of critical business processes. The vulnerability's ability to compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability simultaneously means sensitive corporate data and intellectual property could be exposed or altered. Local exploitation without user interaction increases risk in environments where endpoint security is weak or where attackers have gained initial footholds. The absence of known exploits currently provides a window for proactive defense, but the high severity score underscores urgency. European organizations with regulatory compliance requirements such as GDPR must consider the legal and reputational consequences of breaches stemming from this vulnerability.

1. Apply official patches from Microsoft immediately once available to remediate the vulnerability in Microsoft 365 Apps for Enterprise version 16.0.1. 2. Until patches are deployed, restrict local access to systems running the affected software to trusted users only, minimizing risk of local exploitation. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to monitor and block suspicious activities related to Microsoft Word processes. 4. Conduct regular audits of installed software versions across the enterprise to identify and prioritize vulnerable systems for remediation. 5. Educate users about the risks of executing untrusted documents or macros, even though user interaction is not required for this exploit, to reduce attack surface. 6. Implement network segmentation to limit lateral movement if a local compromise occurs. 7. Monitor security advisories from Microsoft and threat intelligence feeds for updates on exploit availability or additional mitigation guidance. 8. Consider deploying enhanced memory protection technologies such as Control Flow Guard (CFG) and Data Execution Prevention (DEP) to mitigate exploitation attempts.