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Visual Studio Code CVE-2020-1416

HIGH
Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269)
2020-07-14 secure@microsoft.com
8.8
CVSS 3.1 · NVD
View

Vulnerability Assessment

Weakness
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A06:2025 - Insecure Design
ASVS 5.0
V8 - Authorization Least privilege enforcement
MITRE ATT&CK

1 technique across 1 tactic: Privilege Escalation

The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up.

Impact

CVSS score of 8.8 (HIGH). Attack characteristics: network attack vector, low complexity, no privileges required, user interaction required.

Exploit ScenarioDerived

A remote attacker could escalate privileges to gain unauthorized elevated access by sending crafted requests to the affected application. No authentication is required to exploit this vulnerability.

This Week Schedule remediation this week. Why: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9).
Patch available 5.9% exploitation probability (EPSS)

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AnalysisAI

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code when they load software dependencies, aka 'Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code Elevation of Privilege. Rated high severity (CVSS 8.8), this vulnerability is remotely exploitable, no authentication required, low attack complexity. This Improper Privilege Management vulnerability could allow attackers to escalate privileges to gain unauthorized elevated access.

RemediationAI

A vendor patch is available. Apply the latest security update as soon as possible. Apply principle of least privilege, validate privilege transitions, implement proper role separation.

Affects your stack

Find out whether the stacks and servers you run are on an affected version.

Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.

Technical ContextAI · show details

This vulnerability is classified as Improper Privilege Management (CWE-269), which allows attackers to escalate privileges to gain unauthorized elevated access. An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code when they load software dependencies, aka 'Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'. Affected products include: Microsoft Azure Storage Explorer, Microsoft Typescript, Microsoft Visual Studio 2017, Microsoft Visual Studio 2019, Microsoft Visual Studio Code.

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  • Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources

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Severity by source

NVD PRIMARY 8.8 HIGH
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.

CVSS VectorNVD

Attack Vector
Network
Attack Complexity
Low
Privileges Required
None
User Interaction
Required
Scope
Unchanged
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High

DescriptionNVD

An elevation of privilege vulnerability exists in Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code when they load software dependencies, aka 'Visual Studio and Visual Studio Code Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability'.

Threat Intelligence Overview

EPSS Score
5.9%
Top 8% exploitable
Data Quality
2 sources
Confidence: Low

How this decision was reached

The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.

SignalValue
Severity HIGH
CISA KEV No
Public POC No
EPSS 5.9%
Patch available Yes
Active threat No
Deciding rule
HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9)
What every action level means
Emergency Immediate action required. Criteria: CRITICAL + in CISA KEV (actively exploited) without patch, OR CRITICAL + EPSS > 30% without patch, OR CRITICAL + active threat signals without patch.
Act Now Prioritize within 24-48h. Criteria: in KEV with patch available, OR CRITICAL + public POC, OR HIGH + EPSS > 10%, OR CRITICAL + active threat, OR any CRITICAL severity.
This Week Schedule remediation this week. Criteria: HIGH severity (CVSS 7.0-8.9). Patch within normal change window.
This Month Plan within 30 days. Criteria: MEDIUM severity (CVSS 4.0-6.9), lower exploitation probability. Include in regular patch cycle.
Monitor Track and reassess. Criteria: LOW severity (CVSS 0.1-3.9), minimal exploitation risk. No immediate action needed.

SSVC AssessmentENISA

SSVC Decision· derived
Scheduled
Exploitation· derived
None
System Exposure· derived
Open
Automatable· derived
No
Human Impact· derived
Medium

Priority Score

50
Low Medium High Critical
KEV: 0
EPSS: +6
CVSS: +44
PoC: 0
Weaponized: 0
Threat intel: 0
Gov advisory: 0

Attack Technique

Privilege escalation occurs when an attacker leverages flaws in access control mechanisms to gain permissions beyond what they were originally granted.

Affected Products (CPE)NVD

cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:azure_storage_explorer:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:typescript:-:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2017:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_2019:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_code:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*
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