CVE-2025-54908 is a use-after-free vulnerability classified under CWE-416 found in Microsoft Office 2019 PowerPoint (version 19.0.0). This vulnerability occurs due to improper handling of memory, where a freed object is accessed again, leading to undefined behavior. An attacker can exploit this flaw by convincing a user to open a specially crafted PowerPoint file, which triggers the use-after-free condition. This can result in arbitrary code execution with the privileges of the current user, potentially allowing the attacker to install programs, view, change, or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights. The CVSS v3.1 base score is 7.8, indicating high severity, with attack vector local (AV:L), low attack complexity (AC:L), no privileges required (PR:N), but requiring user interaction (UI:R). The scope is unchanged (S:U), and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high (C:H/I:H/A:H). No known public exploits are reported yet, and no patches have been linked at the time of publication. The vulnerability was reserved on 2025-07-31 and published on 2025-09-09. The flaw primarily affects Microsoft Office 2019 installations running version 19.0.0, which is widely used in enterprise environments. The vulnerability's exploitation requires local access and user action, limiting remote exploitation but still posing a significant risk in targeted attacks or insider threat scenarios.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Microsoft Office 2019 across enterprises, government agencies, and critical infrastructure sectors. Successful exploitation can lead to full compromise of affected systems, resulting in data breaches, disruption of business operations, and potential lateral movement within networks. Confidentiality is at risk as attackers could access sensitive documents, while integrity and availability could be compromised through unauthorized code execution and system manipulation. The requirement for local access and user interaction reduces the risk of large-scale automated attacks but increases the threat from targeted spear-phishing campaigns or insider threats. Organizations in sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government, which rely heavily on Office documents for daily operations, are particularly vulnerable. The lack of a patch at the time of disclosure necessitates immediate risk management and mitigation to prevent exploitation.

1. Monitor Microsoft security advisories closely and apply patches immediately once released for Microsoft Office 2019 version 19.0.0. 2. Implement strict email filtering and attachment scanning to reduce the risk of malicious PowerPoint files reaching end users. 3. Employ application whitelisting and execution control policies to restrict execution of unauthorized code and scripts. 4. Educate users about the risks of opening unsolicited or unexpected Office documents, emphasizing caution with email attachments. 5. Use endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify and block suspicious behaviors related to use-after-free exploitation attempts. 6. Limit local user privileges to reduce the impact of code execution under compromised accounts. 7. Consider disabling or restricting macros and embedded content in Office documents where possible. 8. Conduct regular security audits and vulnerability assessments focusing on Office suite deployments. 9. Isolate critical systems and sensitive data to minimize lateral movement if a compromise occurs. 10. Maintain up-to-date backups to enable recovery in case of successful exploitation impacting availability.