CVE-2025-49739: Visual Studio Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability

Overview

Severity

High (CVSS 8.8)

CVSS Vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Category

Elevation of Privilege

Exploit Status

Not Exploited

Exploitation Likelihood

Less Likely

Patch Tuesday

2025-Jul

Released

2025-07-08

EPSS Score

0.25% (percentile: 47.9%)

Description

Improper link resolution before file access ('link following') in Visual Studio allows an unauthorized attacker to elevate privileges over a network.

FAQ

What privileges could be gained by an attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability? An attacker who successfully exploited this vulnerability could gain SYSTEM privileges.

Affected Products (7)

Developer Tools

• Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8)
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11 (includes 16.0 - 16.10)
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.12
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2015 Update 3
• Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.14

Security Updates (7)

• Release Notes
• Release Notes
• Release Notes
• Release Notes
• Release Notes
• 5063035
• Release Notes

Acknowledgments

<a href="https://twitter.com/sim0nsecurity">Simon (@sim0nsecurity)</a>

Revision History

• 2025-07-08: Information published.