CVE-2025-27745 in Office
Summary
by MITRE • 04/08/2025
Use after free in Microsoft Office allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/09/2025
This vulnerability represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Microsoft Office applications that enables remote code execution through maliciously crafted Office documents. The vulnerability arises when the application fails to properly manage memory allocation and deallocation processes, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate freed memory regions. The flaw specifically manifests during document processing operations where Office applications handle complex file structures and embedded objects, particularly affecting Word, Excel, and PowerPoint components. The use-after-free condition occurs when memory previously allocated to an object is freed but the application continues to reference that memory location, potentially allowing malicious code to be executed with the privileges of the affected user. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-416, which categorizes improper cleanup of memory resources as a fundamental flaw in software security design. The attack vector typically involves social engineering techniques where users are tricked into opening malicious Office documents, making this a particularly dangerous threat in enterprise environments where document sharing is common. The operational impact extends beyond simple privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can lead to full system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within network infrastructures. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish persistent backdoors, deploy additional malware payloads, or conduct advanced persistent threat campaigns. The vulnerability's exploitation requires minimal user interaction beyond document opening, making it particularly effective for phishing campaigns and targeted attacks. According to ATT&CK framework, this vulnerability maps to T1059 for command and scripting interpreter and T1068 for exploit for privilege escalation, representing the attack chain from initial compromise to system control. The memory corruption aspect of this vulnerability also relates to T1203, which covers exploitation for privilege escalation through memory corruption techniques. Organizations should implement immediate mitigations including disabling macro execution, implementing strict document handling policies, and deploying application control measures to prevent unauthorized Office document execution. The vulnerability demonstrates the persistent challenges in memory management within complex office productivity suites and highlights the need for continuous security hardening efforts. Microsoft has released patches addressing this vulnerability, but organizations must ensure comprehensive deployment across all affected systems to prevent exploitation. The flaw also underscores the importance of zero-trust security models where document processing is treated as inherently untrusted, regardless of source or user permissions. Security teams should monitor for indicators of compromise related to suspicious Office document execution and implement network-based detection measures to identify potential exploitation attempts. Regular security awareness training remains crucial in preventing successful social engineering attacks that exploit this vulnerability, as human factors continue to represent the primary attack surface for many exploitation techniques.