CVE-2021-36952: Microsoft Visual Studio DDS File Parsing Heap-based Buffer Overflow Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Published Sep 14, 2021
·
Updated

Visual Studio Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

Other sources

This vulnerability allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Microsoft Visual Studio. User interaction is required to exploit this vulnerability in that the target must visit a malicious page or open a malicious file. The specific flaw exists within the parsing of DDS files. Crafted data in a DDS file can trigger an overflow of a heap-based buffer. An attacker can leverage this vulnerability to execute code in the context of the current process.

ZDI

Affected Software

6 affected componentsFixes available
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 (includes 16.0 - 16.3)=16.4
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 (includes 16.0 – 16.6)=16.7
Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 (includes 15.0 - 15.8)=15.9
Microsoft Visual Studio
Microsoft Visual Studio 2017>=15.0<=15.9
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019>=16.0<=16.7

Event History

Sep 14, 2021
CVE Published
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
Data Sourced
via Microsoft·07:00 AM
DescriptionSeverityWeakness
Sep 15, 2021
CVE Published
via MITRE·11:23 AM
Data Sourced
via MITRE·11:23 AM
DescriptionSeverity
Mar 25, 2025
Advisory Published
via ZDI·09:52 PM
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Frequently Asked Questions

1

What is CVE-2021-36952?

CVE-2021-36952 is a vulnerability that allows remote attackers to execute arbitrary code on affected installations of Microsoft Visual Studio.

2

How can this vulnerability be exploited?

User interaction is required for this vulnerability to be exploited, such as visiting a malicious page or opening a malicious file.

3

Which versions of Microsoft Visual Studio are affected?

Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 (includes 16.0 - 16.6) and Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 (includes 15.0 - 15.8) are affected.

4

What is the severity of CVE-2021-36952?

The severity of CVE-2021-36952 is high, with a CVSS score of 7.8.

5

How do I fix CVE-2021-36952?

To fix CVE-2021-36952, update to the latest version of Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 (16.7) or Visual Studio 2017 (15.9).

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