CVE-2020-0899 : Exploit Details and Defense Strategies

Microsoft Visual Studio is affected by an elevation of privilege vulnerability that stems from how the updater service manages file permissions.

Understanding CVE-2020-0899

What is CVE-2020-0899?

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Microsoft Visual Studio due to improper handling of file permissions by the updater service.

The Impact of CVE-2020-0899

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to elevate privileges on a compromised system, potentially leading to unauthorized actions.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-0899

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio updater service allows an attacker to exploit file permission issues, resulting in an elevation of privilege.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.5 (unspecified version)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.1 - 15.8) (unspecified version)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 (version 16.0)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.4 (includes 16.0 - 16.3) (unspecified version)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by an attacker to manipulate file permissions and gain elevated privileges on the system.

Mitigation and Prevention

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates provided by Microsoft promptly.
Regularly monitor for any suspicious activities on systems.

Long-Term Security Practices

Implement the principle of least privilege to restrict access rights.
Conduct regular security assessments and audits to identify vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released security updates to address the elevation of privilege vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio.