CVE-2025-24080
📋 TL;DR
A use-after-free vulnerability in Microsoft Office allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a victim's system by tricking them into opening a malicious document. This affects users running vulnerable versions of Microsoft Office applications. Successful exploitation requires user interaction.
💻 Affected Systems
- Microsoft Office
- Microsoft 365 Apps
- Microsoft Office LTSC
📦 What is this software?
365 Apps by Microsoft
365 Apps by Microsoft
Office by Microsoft
Office by Microsoft
Office by Microsoft
Office by Microsoft
Office Long Term Servicing Channel by Microsoft
View all CVEs affecting Office Long Term Servicing Channel →
Office Long Term Servicing Channel by Microsoft
View all CVEs affecting Office Long Term Servicing Channel →
⚠️ Risk & Real-World Impact
Worst Case
Full system compromise with attacker gaining the same privileges as the logged-in user, potentially leading to data theft, ransomware deployment, or persistent backdoor installation.
Likely Case
Local code execution with user privileges, allowing attackers to steal documents, install malware, or move laterally within the network.
If Mitigated
Limited impact with proper application sandboxing and least privilege principles, potentially contained to Office application context.
🎯 Exploit Status
Requires user to open malicious document. No known public exploits as of analysis date.
🛠️ Fix & Mitigation
✅ Official Fix
Patch Version: Check Microsoft Security Update Guide for specific version numbers
Vendor Advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2025-24080
Restart Required: No
Instructions:
1. Open any Office application. 2. Go to File > Account. 3. Click Update Options > Update Now. 4. For volume licenses, deploy through Microsoft Endpoint Configuration Manager or equivalent.
🔧 Temporary Workarounds
Disable Office macro execution
WindowsPrevents execution of malicious macros that might exploit this vulnerability
Set Group Policy: Computer Configuration > Administrative Templates > Microsoft Office 2016 > Security Settings > Trust Center > Disable all macros without notification
Use Office Viewer mode
allOpen documents in Protected View to prevent automatic code execution
🧯 If You Can't Patch
- Implement application whitelisting to block unauthorized Office document execution
- Deploy email filtering to block Office documents from untrusted sources
🔍 How to Verify
Check if Vulnerable:
Check Office version against patched versions in Microsoft Security Update GuideCheck Version:
In Word/Excel: File > Account > About [Application]Verify Fix Applied:
Verify Office version matches or exceeds patched version in advisory📡 Detection & Monitoring
Log Indicators:
- Office application crashes with memory access violations
- Unusual child processes spawned from Office applications
Network Indicators:
- Office applications making unexpected outbound connections post-document opening
SIEM Query:
EventID=1000 OR EventID=1001 Source=Application Error Process Name=WINWORD.EXE OR EXCEL.EXE