High severity · published Sep 11, 2020
CVE-2020-16856
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio when it improperly handles objects in memory
7.8
CVSS
4.4%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio when it improperly handles objects in memory. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. Users whose accounts are configured to have fewer user rights on the system could be less impacted than users who operate with administrative user rights.</p> <p>To exploit the vulnerability, an attacker would have to convince a user to open a specially crafted file with an affected version of Visual Studio.</p> <p>The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Visual Studio handles objects in memory.</p>
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
Low
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)4.4% · higher than 91% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
VS
Visual Studio · Microsoft
2012; 2013; 2015 · source: NVD
VS
Visual Studio 2017 · Microsoft
15.0 through 15.8 · source: NVD
VS
Visual Studio 2019 · Microsoft
16.0 through 16.3; 16.5 through 16.6 · source: NVD
Affected product
VS
Visual Studio
Microsoft
More from Visual Studio
8.8
CVE-2025-49739
Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Visual Studio allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network
8.8
CVE-2022-35827
Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
8.8
CVE-2022-35826
Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
8.8
CVE-2022-35825
Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
8.8
CVE-2022-35777
Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability