CVE-2025-29802 Overview
CVE-2025-29802 is a local privilege escalation vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio 2022. The flaw stems from improper access control combined with an untrusted search path condition classified as [CWE-427]. An authenticated local attacker can leverage this weakness to elevate privileges on a host running an affected version of Visual Studio. Exploitation requires user interaction, such as launching Visual Studio or opening a project, which allows the attacker's payload to load with the privileges of the invoking user or process.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation grants an authorized local attacker elevated privileges with high impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability on the affected host.
Affected Products
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2022
- Installations running versions prior to the April 2025 security update
- Windows developer workstations and build hosts with Visual Studio 2022 installed
Discovery Timeline
- 2025-04-08 - CVE-2025-29802 published to the National Vulnerability Database (NVD)
- 2025-04-08 - Microsoft released the security update via the Microsoft CVE-2025-29802 Update Guide
- 2026-06-17 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-29802
Vulnerability Analysis
The vulnerability is an improper access control issue in Microsoft Visual Studio 2022, mapped to [CWE-427] Uncontrolled Search Path Element. Visual Studio resolves one or more dependencies, such as a Dynamic Link Library (DLL) or executable, from a location that a lower-privileged user can influence. When Visual Studio or one of its helper processes searches for that dependency, it loads an attacker-controlled file instead of the legitimate binary. The attacker gains code execution in the security context of the loading process, which enables local privilege escalation.
Exploitation is local and requires the attacker to already hold valid credentials on the target host. User interaction is also required, meaning the target must launch Visual Studio, open a solution, or trigger the vulnerable component. Impact to confidentiality, integrity, and availability is high because the loaded code runs with the target user's privileges.
Root Cause
The root cause is an insecure search order for module or file loading within Visual Studio 2022 components. A directory writable by non-privileged users appears earlier in the resolution path than the trusted installation directory. This allows planted binaries to take precedence over legitimate ones.
Attack Vector
An authenticated local attacker plants a malicious DLL or executable in a directory that Visual Studio searches before the intended path. When a privileged user or process launches Visual Studio or a related tool, the malicious binary loads. Code then executes in the elevated context. Refer to the Microsoft CVE-2025-29802 Update Guide for component-level technical details.
// No public proof-of-concept code is available for CVE-2025-29802.
// See the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory linked above
// for vendor-provided technical details.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-29802
Indicators of Compromise
- Unexpected DLL or executable files placed in directories used by Visual Studio 2022, project working directories, or PATH-listed folders writable by standard users
- Visual Studio processes such as devenv.exe, MSBuild.exe, or vshost loading modules from non-standard paths outside C:\Program Files\Microsoft Visual Studio\2022\
- New child processes spawned by Visual Studio components running with elevated tokens shortly after solution or project open events
Detection Strategies
- Hunt for module load events (Sysmon Event ID 7) where Visual Studio binaries load unsigned or user-writable DLLs
- Correlate process creation events (Event ID 4688 / Sysmon 1) from devenv.exe and MSBuild-related binaries with writes to their working directories
- Flag file creation events (Sysmon 11) in developer project directories that add DLL or EXE files matching names of known Visual Studio dependencies
Monitoring Recommendations
- Establish a baseline of legitimate modules loaded by Visual Studio 2022 processes and alert on deviations
- Monitor privileged accounts that also run Visual Studio, since exploitation requires user interaction with the affected application
- Track patch state of Visual Studio 2022 across developer endpoints and build servers through your endpoint inventory
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-29802
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the Visual Studio 2022 security update referenced in the Microsoft CVE-2025-29802 Update Guide to all developer workstations and build servers
- Inventory all Visual Studio 2022 installations, including side-by-side channel installs (Preview, LTSC), and confirm each is patched
- Restrict local administrative rights on developer endpoints and enforce least privilege for accounts that run Visual Studio
Patch Information
Microsoft addressed CVE-2025-29802 in the April 2025 security update for Visual Studio 2022. Update through the Visual Studio Installer or your enterprise deployment tooling. Consult the Microsoft CVE-2025-29802 Update Guide for the exact fixed build numbers for each Visual Studio 2022 servicing channel.
Workarounds
- Remove write permissions for standard users on directories included in system or process search paths
- Avoid launching Visual Studio from untrusted working directories or network shares that other users can modify
- Enforce application allowlisting to block execution of unsigned binaries from user-writable locations until patching is complete
# No vendor-published configuration workaround is available.
# Apply the Microsoft security update as the primary remediation.
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
