#VU102785 Heap-based buffer overflow in Visual Studio - CVE-2025-21178
Vulnerability identifier: #VU102785
Vulnerability risk: High
CVSSv4.0: 6.1 [CVSS:4.0/AV:N/AC:L/AT:N/PR:N/UI:A/VC:H/VI:H/VA:H/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N/E:U/U:Amber]
CVE-ID: CVE-2025-21178
CWE-ID:
CWE-122
Exploitation vector: Network
Exploit availability: No
Vulnerable software:
Visual Studio
Universal components / Libraries /
Software for developers
Vendor: Microsoft
Description
The vulnerability allows a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code on the target system.
The vulnerability exists due to a boundary error in Visual Studio. A remote attacker can trick a victim to open a specially crafted file, trigger a heap-based buffer overflow and execute arbitrary code on the target system.
Successful exploitation of this vulnerability may result in complete compromise of vulnerable system.
Mitigation
Install updates from vendor's website.
Vulnerable software versions
Visual Studio: 15.9, 15.9.1, 15.9.2, 15.9.3, 15.9.4, 15.9.5, 15.9.6, 15.9.7, 15.9.8, 15.9.9, 15.9.10, 15.9.11, 15.9.12, 15.9.13, 15.9.14, 15.9.15, 15.9.16, 15.9.17, 15.9.18, 15.9.19, 15.9.20, 15.9.21, 15.9.22, 15.9.23, 15.9.24, 15.9.25, 15.9.26, 15.9.27, 15.9.28, 15.9.29, 15.9.30, 15.9.31, 15.9.32, 15.9.33, 15.9.34, 15.9.35, 15.9.36, 15.9.37, 15.9.38, 15.9.39, 15.9.40, 15.9.41, 15.9.42, 15.9.43, 15.9.44, 15.9.45, 15.9.46, 15.9.47, 15.9.48, 15.9.49, 15.9.50, 15.9.51, 15.9.52, 15.9.57, 15.9.58, 15.9.59, 15.9.60, 15.9.61, 15.9.62, 15.9.63, 16.1, 16.1.0 16.1.28917.181, 16.1.1 16.1.28922.388, 16.1.2 16.1.29001.49, 16.1.3 16.1.29009.5, 16.1.4 16.1.29020.237, 16.1.5 16.1.29025.244, 16.1.6 16.1.29102.190, 16.10, 16.10.0 16.10.31321.278, 16.10.1 16.10.31402.337, 16.10.2 16.10.31410.357, 16.10.3 16.10.31424.327, 16.10.4 16.10.31515.178, 16.11.0 16.11.31605.320, 16.11.1 16.11.31613.86, 16.11.2 16.11.31624.102, 16.11.3 16.11.31702.278, 16.11.4 16.11.31727.386, 16.11.5 16.11.31729.503, 16.11.6 16.11.31829.152, 16.11.7 16.11.31911.196, 16.11.8 16.11.32002.261, 16.11.9 16.11.32106.194, 16.11.10 16.11.32126.315, 16.11.11 16.11.32228.343, 16.11.12 16.11.32407.337, 16.11.13 16.11.32413.511, 16.11.14 16.11.32428.217, 16.11.15 16.11.32510.428, 16.11.16 16.11.32602.291, 16.11.17 16.11.32630.194, 16.11.18 16.11.32802.440, 16.11.19 16.11.32901.82, 16.11.20 16.11.32929.386, 16.11.21 16.11.33027.164, 16.11.22 16.11.33130.400, 16.11.23 16.11.33214.272, 16.11.24 16.11.33328.57, 16.11.25 16.11.33423.256, 16.11.26 16.11.33529.622, 16.11.27 16.11.33801.447, 16.11.28 16.11.33920.266, 16.11.29 16.11.33927.289, 16.11.30 16.11.34031.81, 16.11.31 16.11.34114.132, 16.11.32 16.11.34301.259, 16.11.33 16.11.34407.143, 16.11.34 16.11.34601.136, 16.11.35 16.11.34729.46, 16.11.36 16.11.34902.97, 16.11.37 16.11.34931.43, 16.11.38 16.11.35026.282, 16.11.39 16.11.35130.168, 16.11.40 16.11.35229.62, 16.11.41 16.11.35325.158, 16.11.42 16.11.35425.106, 17.1.0 17.1.32210.238, 17.1.1 17.1.32228.430, 17.1.2 17.1.32319.34, 17.1.3 17.1.32328.378, 17.1.4 17.1.32407.343, 17.1.5 17.1.32414.318, 17.1.6 17.1.32421.90, 17.1.7 17.1.32428.221, 17.6.0 17.6.33712.159, 17.6.1 17.6.33717.318, 17.6.2 17.6.33723.286, 17.6.3 17.6.33801.468, 17.6.4 17.6.33815.320, 17.6.5 17.6.33829.357, 17.6.6 17.6.33927.249, 17.6.7 17.6.34031.178, 17.6.8 17.6.34202.202, 17.6.9 17.6.34221.33, 17.6.10 17.6.34302.98, 17.6.11 17.6.34408.137, 17.6.12 17.6.34601.182, 17.6.13 17.6.34701.35, 17.6.14 17.6.34728.177, 17.6.15 17.6.34902.100, 17.6.16 17.6.34931.59, 17.6.17 17.6.35028.176, 17.6.18 17.6.35201.154, 17.6.19 17.6.35230.93, 17.6.20 17.6.35326.246, 17.6.21 17.6.35430.205, 17.8.0 17.8.34309.116, 17.8.1 17.8.34316.72, 17.8.2 17.8.34322.80, 17.8.3 17.8.34330.188, 17.8.4 17.8.34408.163, 17.8.5 17.8.34511.84, 17.8.6 17.8.34525.116, 17.8.7 17.8.34601.278, 17.8.8 17.8.34701.33, 17.8.9 17.8.34728.176, 17.8.10 17.8.34902.127, 17.8.11 17.8.34931.61, 17.8.12 17.8.35027.43, 17.8.13 17.8.35201.163, 17.8.14 17.8.35230.98, 17.8.15 17.8.35326.199, 17.8.16 17.8.35430.204, 17.10.0 17.10.34916.146, 17.10.1 17.10.34928.147, 17.10.2 17.10.35004.147, 17.10.3 17.10.35013.160, 17.10.4 17.10.35027.167, 17.10.5 17.10.35122.118, 17.10.6 17.10.35201.131, 17.10.7 17.10.35230.96, 17.10.8 17.10.35326.205, 17.10.9 17.10.35431.56
External links
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2025-21178
Q & A
Can this vulnerability be exploited remotely?
Yes. This vulnerability can be exploited by a remote non-authenticated attacker via the Internet.
Is there known malware, which exploits this vulnerability?
No. We are not aware of malware exploiting this vulnerability.
