CVE-2025-62557 is a use-after-free vulnerability identified in Microsoft Office LTSC 2024, specifically version 16.0.0. Use-after-free (CWE-416) vulnerabilities occur when a program continues to use memory after it has been freed, leading to undefined behavior including potential arbitrary code execution. In this case, the flaw allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally on the affected system without requiring any privileges or user interaction, which significantly lowers the barrier to exploitation. The vulnerability impacts the confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the system, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise. The CVSS v3.1 score of 8.4 (AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H) indicates that the attack vector is local, attack complexity is low, no privileges or user interaction are required, and the impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high. Although no exploits are currently known to be in the wild, the vulnerability is publicly disclosed and assigned a high severity rating, which means attackers could develop exploits rapidly. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Office LTSC 2024, a widely used productivity suite in enterprise environments, making it a critical concern for organizations relying on this software. The lack of available patches at the time of disclosure means organizations must implement interim mitigations to reduce risk until official updates are released.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a significant risk due to the widespread use of Microsoft Office LTSC 2024 in business, government, and critical infrastructure sectors. Exploitation could lead to local code execution, enabling attackers to escalate privileges, install malware, exfiltrate sensitive data, or disrupt operations. The high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability means that sensitive corporate and personal data could be compromised, potentially resulting in financial loss, reputational damage, and regulatory penalties under GDPR. The local attack vector suggests that attackers need some form of local access, which could be achieved through insider threats, compromised endpoints, or physical access. Given the strategic importance of sectors such as finance, healthcare, and government in Europe, successful exploitation could have cascading effects on national security and economic stability. The absence of known exploits in the wild currently provides a window for mitigation, but the vulnerability’s characteristics make it a prime target for attackers once exploit code becomes available.

1. Monitor Microsoft’s official channels closely and apply security patches immediately once they become available for Microsoft Office LTSC 2024. 2. Restrict local access to systems running the affected Office version by enforcing strict access controls, including the use of strong authentication and limiting administrative privileges. 3. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions capable of detecting anomalous behavior indicative of exploitation attempts. 4. Conduct regular security awareness training to reduce the risk of insider threats and educate users on the importance of physical security. 5. Implement network segmentation to isolate critical systems and reduce the potential impact of local exploits spreading laterally. 6. Use virtualization or sandboxing techniques for opening untrusted Office documents to contain potential exploitation. 7. Maintain up-to-date backups and incident response plans to ensure rapid recovery in case of compromise. 8. Evaluate and enhance logging and monitoring to detect suspicious local activities promptly.