CVE-2020-16856 Explained : Impact and Mitigation

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. This CVE affects multiple versions of Microsoft Visual Studio.

Understanding CVE-2020-16856

This CVE involves a critical remote code execution vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio.

What is CVE-2020-16856?

The vulnerability arises from improper memory object handling in Visual Studio.
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code within the user's context.
Attackers gaining administrative user rights could take control of the system.
Users with limited rights are less impacted.
Exploitation requires convincing a user to open a specially crafted file.

The Impact of CVE-2020-16856

Severity: High with a CVSS base score of 7.8.
Type: Remote Code Execution.
Attack Vector: Local, Attack Complexity: Low, Privileges Required: None, User Interaction: Required, Scope: Unchanged, Confidentiality, Integrity, and Availability Impact: High, Exploit Code Maturity: Proof-of-Concept, Remediation Level: Official Fix, Report Confidence: Confirmed.

Technical Details of CVE-2020-16856

This section provides detailed technical information about the vulnerability.

Vulnerability Description

The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code in the user's context.
Exploitation involves manipulating memory objects.

Affected Systems and Versions

Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.7 (includes 16.0 – 16.6)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.0
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.4 (includes 16.0 - 16.3)
Microsoft Visual Studio 2012 Update 5
Microsoft Visual Studio 2013 Update 5
Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Update 3

Exploitation Mechanism

Attackers need to trick users into opening a malicious file using the affected Visual Studio version.

Mitigation and Prevention

Protecting systems from CVE-2020-16856 requires immediate actions and long-term security practices.

Immediate Steps to Take

Apply the official update provided by Microsoft to fix the vulnerability.
Educate users about the risks of opening files from unknown or untrusted sources.

Long-Term Security Practices

Regularly update Visual Studio and other software to patch known vulnerabilities.
Implement security awareness training to help users recognize and avoid potential threats.

Patching and Updates

Microsoft has released an update to address the vulnerability by improving memory object handling in Visual Studio.