7.8
HIGH
CVE-2020-16856
Microsoft Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
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>

INFO

Published Date :

Sept. 11, 2020, 5:15 p.m.

Last Modified :

Dec. 31, 2023, 10:15 p.m.

Remotely Exploitable :

No

Impact Score :

5.9

Exploitability Score :

1.8
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github

CVE-2020-16856 has a 1 public PoC/Exploit available at Github. Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.

Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2020-16856 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Microsoft visual_studio_2017
2 Microsoft visual_studio_2019
3 Microsoft visual_studio
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2020-16856.

URL Resource
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16856 Patch Vendor Advisory

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

CVE Data Analysis, CVE Monitor, CVE EXP Prediction Based on Deep Learning. 1999-2020年存量CVE数据分析、监控CVE增量更新、基于深度学习的CVE EXP预测和自动化推送

Python

Updated: 2 months, 1 week ago
176 stars 24 fork 24 watcher
Born at : June 15, 2020, 2:56 p.m. This repo has been linked 692 different CVEs too.

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2020-16856 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2020-16856 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    May. 14, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Dec. 31, 2023

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Description A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio when it improperly handles objects in memory, aka 'Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-16874. <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>
    Added CVSS V3.1 Microsoft Corporation AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Sep. 17, 2020

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V2 Metadata Victim must voluntarily interact with attack mechanism
    Added CVSS V2 NIST (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C)
    Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    Changed Reference Type https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16856 No Types Assigned https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16856 Patch, Vendor Advisory
    Added CWE NIST NVD-CWE-noinfo
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio:2012:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio:2013:update_5:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio:2015:update_3:*:*:*:*:*:* *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2017:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 15.0 up to (including) 15.8 *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 16.0 up to (including) 16.3 *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions from (including) 16.5 up to (including) 16.6
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2020-16856 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2020-16856 weaknesses.

Exploit Prediction

EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days.

2.20 }} 1.04%

score

0.89728

percentile

CVSS31 - Vulnerability Scoring System
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
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Scope
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