CVE-2025-53730 in Visio
Summary
by MITRE • 08/12/2025
Use after free in Microsoft Office Visio allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/16/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-53730 represents a critical use-after-free flaw in Microsoft Office Visio that enables remote code execution through local exploitation. This vulnerability arises from improper memory management within the application's handling of specific Visio file formats, particularly when processing maliciously crafted Visio documents. The flaw exists in the way Visio manages memory allocation and deallocation during document processing, creating opportunities for attackers to manipulate memory pointers and execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the targeted user. This issue falls under the CWE-416 category of Use After Free, which is a well-documented class of vulnerabilities where memory is accessed after it has been freed, leading to potential code execution and system compromise.
The technical exploitation of this vulnerability requires an attacker to craft a malicious Visio document that triggers the flawed memory management behavior when opened by an affected system. When Visio processes the specially crafted file, the application frees memory associated with certain objects but continues to reference that memory location, allowing an attacker to overwrite the freed memory with malicious code. This technique leverages the fundamental principles of memory corruption attacks and aligns with the attack patterns documented in the MITRE ATT&CK framework under the T1059.007 technique for command and scripting interpreter. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous because it can be triggered through simple file opening operations, making it highly effective for social engineering campaigns and phishing attacks where users might inadvertently open malicious Visio documents.
The operational impact of CVE-2025-53730 extends beyond simple local privilege escalation, as successful exploitation can result in complete system compromise and persistence mechanisms. Attackers can leverage this vulnerability to establish backdoors, escalate privileges to SYSTEM level access, and maintain long-term presence on compromised systems. The vulnerability affects Microsoft Office Visio versions that are widely deployed in enterprise environments, making it particularly attractive to threat actors targeting business networks. Organizations running affected Visio versions face significant risk of data breaches, lateral movement, and persistent threats, as the vulnerability can be exploited without user interaction beyond opening the malicious file. The exploitation chain typically involves initial access through phishing or drive-by download attacks, followed by privilege escalation and post-exploitation activities that align with the ATT&CK framework's lateral movement and persistence phases.
Mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-53730 should include immediate patching of affected Visio installations, implementation of strict file validation policies, and network-level controls to prevent access to known malicious Visio files. Organizations should deploy application whitelisting solutions to restrict execution of unauthorized Visio files and implement email filtering controls to prevent phishing attempts. Microsoft has released security updates that address this vulnerability, and administrators should prioritize deployment of these patches across all affected systems. Additional defensive measures include monitoring for suspicious Visio file processing activities, implementing network segmentation to limit lateral movement, and maintaining comprehensive backup strategies to recover from potential exploitation. The vulnerability highlights the importance of regular security updates and proper application hardening practices, as outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and ISO 27001 standards for information security management. Organizations should also consider implementing behavioral analysis tools that can detect anomalous Visio document processing patterns that may indicate exploitation attempts.