Visual Studio Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Priority LOW 35CWE-427Published · Updated
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Impact type
- Privilege escalation
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from Microsoft.
Summary
Visual Studio Installer Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.0069 53rd percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8) (Microsoft): 15.9.70Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11 (includes 16.0 - 16.10) (Microsoft): 16.11.44+3 more products
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
| Vendor | Product | Affected versions | Fixed in | Status | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft | Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8) | 15.9.0 to before 15.9.70 | 15.9.70 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11 (includes 16.0 - 16.10) | 16.11.0 to before 16.11.44 | 16.11.44 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 | 17.10.0 to before 17.10.11 | 17.10.11 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.12 | 17.12.0 to before 17.12.5 | 17.12.5 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8 | 17.8.0 to before 17.8.18 | 17.8.18 | Patch available | CNA |
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8) VendorMicrosoft Affected 15.9.0 to before 15.9.70 Fixed in 15.9.70 Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11 (includes 16.0 - 16.10) VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.11.0 to before 16.11.44 Fixed in 16.11.44 Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 VendorMicrosoft Affected 17.10.0 to before 17.10.11 Fixed in 17.10.11 Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.12 VendorMicrosoft Affected 17.12.0 to before 17.12.5 Fixed in 17.12.5 Patch available CNA
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8 VendorMicrosoft Affected 17.8.0 to before 17.8.18 Fixed in 17.8.18 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 3
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2017:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 15.0 to before 15.9.70 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 16.0 to before 16.11.44 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | 17.8 to before 17.8.18; 17.10 to before 17.10.11; 17.12 to before 17.12.5 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2017:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 15.0 to before 15.9.70 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 16.0 to before 16.11.44 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions 17.8 to before 17.8.18; 17.10 to before 17.10.11; 17.12 to before 17.12.5 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8) (Microsoft) Fixed in 15.9.70
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11 (includes 16.0 - 16.10) (Microsoft) Fixed in 16.11.44
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 (Microsoft) Fixed in 17.10.11
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.12 (Microsoft) Fixed in 17.12.5
- Fix · CNA Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8 (Microsoft) Fixed in 17.8.18
Vendor assessments
Microsoft
Microsoft's page for this CVE →
- Impact
- Elevation of Privilege
- Exploited
- No
- Publicly disclosed
- No
- Exploitability
- Exploitation Less Likely
| Product | Status | Plan or fix |
|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 (includes 15.0 - 15.8) | Fixed | 15.9.70 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.11 (includes 16.0 - 16.10) | Fixed | 16.11.44 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10 | Fixed | 17.10.11 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.12 | Fixed | 17.12.5 · Security Update |
| Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.8 | Fixed | 17.8.18 · Security Update |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-21206
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-rg59-phq2-352q
References
More Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 vulnerabilities
- TI-2020-01112 A remote code execution vulnerability exists in .NET Framework, Microsoft SharePoint, and… KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2022-16266 Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2021-15028 Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability CVSS 3.1HIGH 7.8
- TI-2019-01063 Improper input validation in Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 version 15.9 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2019-01064 Improper input validation in Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.4 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2019-01066 Improper input validation in Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.4 CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
Sources
- CVE-2025-21206 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-21206 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-rg59-phq2-352q · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-21206 · Microsoft Security Update Guide
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences