Visual Studio Tools for Applications and SQL Server Management Studio 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
Uncontrolled search path element in Visual Studio Tools for Applications and SQL Server Management Studio allows an authorized attacker to elevate privileges locally.
Why it matters now
Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00767 55th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 (Microsoft): 20.2.37.0Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) (Microsoft): 16.0.35907.0, 17.0.35906.0+2 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 | SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 | 20.0 to before 20.2.37.0 | 20.2.37.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) | 16.0 to before 16.0.35907.0 | 16.0.35907.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) | 17.0 to before 17.0.35906.0 | 17.0.35906.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | VSTA 2019 SDK | 16.0 to before 16.0.35907.0 | 16.0.35907.0 | Patch available | CNA |
| Microsoft | VSTA 2022 SDK | 17.0 to before 17.0.35906.0 | 17.0.35906.0 | Patch available | CNA |
- SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 VendorMicrosoft Affected 20.0 to before 20.2.37.0 Fixed in 20.2.37.0 Patch available CNA
- Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0 to before 16.0.35907.0 Fixed in 16.0.35907.0 Patch available CNA
- Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) VendorMicrosoft Affected 17.0 to before 17.0.35906.0 Fixed in 17.0.35906.0 Patch available CNA
- VSTA 2019 SDK VendorMicrosoft Affected 16.0 to before 16.0.35907.0 Fixed in 16.0.35907.0 Patch available CNA
- VSTA 2022 SDK VendorMicrosoft Affected 17.0 to before 17.0.35906.0 Fixed in 17.0.35906.0 Patch available CNA
CPE configurations NVD · 5
| CPE | Versions | Role | Vendor |
|---|---|---|---|
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sql_server_management_studio:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 20.2.1 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 16.0.35907.0 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2019_sdk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 16.0.35907.0 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 17.0.35906.0 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
| cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2022_sdk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* | before 17.0.35906.0 | Vulnerable | Microsoft |
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:sql_server_management_studio:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 20.2.1 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 16.0.35907.0 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2019_sdk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 16.0.35907.0 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2022:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 17.0.35906.0 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
- cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_tools_for_applications_2022_sdk:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions before 17.0.35906.0 Vulnerable ·Microsoft
Remediation
- Fix · CNA SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 (Microsoft) Fixed in 20.2.37.0
- Fix · CNA Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) (Microsoft) Fixed in 16.0.35907.0
- Fix · CNA Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) (Microsoft) Fixed in 17.0.35906.0
- Fix · CNA VSTA 2019 SDK (Microsoft) Fixed in 16.0.35907.0
- Fix · CNA VSTA 2022 SDK (Microsoft) Fixed in 17.0.35906.0
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 |
|---|---|---|
| SQL Server Management Studio 20.2 | Fixed | 20.2.37.0 · Security Update |
| VSTA 2019 SDK | Fixed | 16.0.35907.0 · Security Update |
| VSTA 2022 SDK | Fixed | 17.0.35906.0 · Security Update |
| Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) 2019 | Fixed | 16.0.35907.0 · Security Update |
| Visual Studio Tools for Applications (VSTA) 2022 | Fixed | 17.0.35906.0 · Security Update |
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2025-29803
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-mxmx-4cj8-4596
References
More Microsoft Sql Server Management Studio vulnerabilities
- TI-2018-06197 XML external entity injection in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17.9 CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2018-06196 XML external entity injection in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17.9 CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2018-06192 XML external entity injection in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio 17.9 CVSS 3.0MEDIUM 5.5
- TI-2026-46814 Microsoft SQL Server Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.6
- TI-2019-01088 Improper handling of exceptional conditions in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
- TI-2019-01027 Improper handling of exceptional conditions in Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio CVSS 3.1MEDIUM 6.5
Sources
- CVE-2025-29803 · CVE Program
- CVE-2025-29803 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-mxmx-4cj8-4596 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
- CVE-2025-29803 · Microsoft Security Update Guide
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences