CVE-2025-47959 Overview
CVE-2025-47959 is a command injection vulnerability affecting Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 that allows an authorized attacker to execute arbitrary code over a network. This vulnerability stems from improper neutralization of special elements used in commands, enabling attackers with valid credentials to inject and execute malicious commands within the context of the application.
Critical Impact
Successful exploitation allows authenticated attackers to execute arbitrary code remotely, potentially leading to complete system compromise, data exfiltration, and lateral movement within enterprise development environments.
Affected Products
- Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 (multiple versions)
Discovery Timeline
- June 13, 2025 - CVE-2025-47959 published to NVD
- July 10, 2025 - Last updated in NVD database
Technical Details for CVE-2025-47959
Vulnerability Analysis
This command injection vulnerability (CWE-77) exists in Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 due to improper neutralization of special elements in command processing. The flaw allows authenticated attackers to inject malicious commands that are subsequently executed by the application. While the attack requires network access and user interaction, successful exploitation grants the attacker high-impact capabilities affecting confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the target system.
The vulnerability is particularly concerning in enterprise development environments where Visual Studio is widely deployed, as it could serve as an initial access vector for more sophisticated attacks targeting source code repositories and build pipelines.
Root Cause
The root cause of CVE-2025-47959 is the failure to properly sanitize or neutralize special characters and command sequences before they are processed by the command execution subsystem. This allows specially crafted input containing shell metacharacters or command delimiters to break out of the intended command context and execute arbitrary commands with the privileges of the Visual Studio process.
Attack Vector
The attack requires network connectivity and targets authenticated users of Visual Studio 2022. The attacker must craft malicious input that exploits the command injection point, and user interaction is required to trigger the vulnerability. Once exploited, the attacker can execute commands with the same privileges as the Visual Studio process, potentially gaining access to sensitive development assets, source code, and credentials stored within the development environment.
The command injection mechanism allows attackers to escape the intended command structure by injecting shell metacharacters such as semicolons, pipes, or command substitution syntax. These special elements are not properly sanitized, allowing additional commands to be appended and executed.
Detection Methods for CVE-2025-47959
Indicators of Compromise
- Unusual child processes spawned by devenv.exe or Visual Studio-related processes
- Suspicious command-line arguments containing shell metacharacters in Visual Studio process trees
- Unexpected network connections originating from Visual Studio processes
- Anomalous file system modifications in development directories
Detection Strategies
- Monitor process creation events for unexpected child processes of Visual Studio executables
- Implement behavioral analysis to detect command execution patterns inconsistent with normal IDE operations
- Deploy endpoint detection rules to identify command injection patterns in process arguments
- Enable enhanced logging for Visual Studio and Windows command processor activity
Monitoring Recommendations
- Configure SIEM rules to alert on suspicious process hierarchies involving Visual Studio
- Monitor network traffic from development workstations for unusual outbound connections
- Implement file integrity monitoring on critical development environment directories
- Review Visual Studio extension installations and configurations for unauthorized modifications
How to Mitigate CVE-2025-47959
Immediate Actions Required
- Apply the latest security updates from Microsoft for Visual Studio 2022
- Review and restrict network access to development workstations
- Audit Visual Studio installations across the organization for affected versions
- Implement application whitelisting to restrict process execution from Visual Studio
Patch Information
Microsoft has released security updates to address this vulnerability. Organizations should consult the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory for specific patch versions and update guidance. Apply the latest cumulative updates for Visual Studio 2022 to remediate this vulnerability.
Workarounds
- Restrict network access to Visual Studio installations where possible
- Implement strict input validation at network boundaries
- Limit Visual Studio usage to trusted networks and authenticated sessions
- Consider temporary isolation of development environments until patches can be applied
# Verify Visual Studio version and check for updates
# Run from Visual Studio Developer Command Prompt
devenv /updateconfiguration
# Check installed Visual Studio version
vswhere -property installationVersion
Disclaimer: This content was generated using AI. While we strive for accuracy, please verify critical information with official sources.
