CVE-2020-0900 : What You Need to Know

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists when the Visual Studio Extension Installer Service improperly handles file operations, aka 'Visual Studio Extension Installer Service Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.

Understanding CVE-2020-0900

This CVE involves a security vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio.

What is CVE-2020-0900?

The CVE-2020-0900 is an elevation of privilege vulnerability in the Visual Studio Extension Installer Service.

The Impact of CVE-2020-0900

The vulnerability could allow an attacker to escalate privileges on an affected system, potentially leading to unauthorized access or control.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-0900

This section provides a deeper technical insight into the CVE.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability arises due to the improper handling of file operations by the Visual Studio Extension Installer Service.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.5
Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.1 - 15.8)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.0
Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Update 3
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.4 (includes 16.0 - 16.3)

Exploitation Mechanism

The vulnerability can be exploited by a malicious actor to execute arbitrary code and potentially gain elevated privileges.

Mitigation and Prevention

Steps to address and prevent exploitation of this vulnerability.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply security updates or patches provided by Microsoft.
Monitor system logs for any suspicious activities.
Restrict user permissions to minimize exposure to the vulnerability.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update software and applications to the latest versions.
Implement secure coding practices to prevent similar vulnerabilities.

Patching and Updates

Ensure all affected systems are patched with the latest security updates provided by Microsoft.