CVE-2025-54223 is a high-severity Use After Free (CWE-416) vulnerability affecting Adobe InCopy versions 20.4, 19.5.4, and earlier. This vulnerability arises when the software improperly manages memory, specifically freeing memory that is still in use, which can lead to arbitrary code execution within the context of the current user. Exploitation requires user interaction, as an attacker must convince the victim to open a specially crafted malicious InCopy file. Once triggered, the vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code, potentially leading to full compromise of the affected user's privileges and data. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, reflecting high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability, with low attack complexity but requiring user interaction and local vector (AV:L). No known exploits are currently reported in the wild, and no patches have been linked yet, indicating that organizations should prioritize monitoring and mitigation efforts. The vulnerability affects a widely used Adobe product in publishing and content creation environments, making it a significant risk for users who handle untrusted or external InCopy files.

For European organizations, the impact of CVE-2025-54223 could be substantial, especially for those in media, publishing, advertising, and creative industries that rely on Adobe InCopy for collaborative editorial workflows. Successful exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, data theft, or disruption of editorial processes. Since the vulnerability executes code with the current user's privileges, if the user has elevated rights, the attacker could gain broader access to sensitive corporate resources. This could also serve as a foothold for lateral movement within networks. The requirement for user interaction limits mass exploitation but targeted spear-phishing or social engineering campaigns could be effective. Additionally, organizations with remote or hybrid workforces may face increased risk if users open malicious files outside secure environments. The absence of patches increases exposure time, and the high confidentiality and integrity impact could lead to intellectual property loss or reputational damage.

To mitigate this vulnerability effectively, European organizations should: 1) Immediately implement strict email and file attachment filtering to block or quarantine suspicious InCopy files from untrusted sources. 2) Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected InCopy documents, emphasizing caution with files from unknown senders. 3) Employ application whitelisting and sandboxing techniques for Adobe InCopy to restrict execution of unauthorized code and isolate the application environment. 4) Monitor endpoint behavior for unusual activity indicative of exploitation attempts, such as unexpected process spawning or memory anomalies. 5) Maintain up-to-date backups of critical editorial and content files to enable recovery in case of compromise. 6) Coordinate with Adobe for timely patch deployment once available, and consider temporary disabling of InCopy usage in high-risk environments until patches are released. 7) Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) tools to detect and respond to exploitation attempts quickly. These steps go beyond generic advice by focusing on user behavior, network filtering, and application isolation tailored to the specific threat vector.