CVE-2019-1354Network attack vector

Arbitrary file overwrite via backslash symlink escape

Published Jan 24, 2020 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Arbitrary file overwrite in Git for Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 and 2019 allows remote attackers to write files via a crafted repository. Checkout path handling accepts backslashes in tracked tree entries and follows malicious symlinks, allowing writes to escape the work tree. Exploitation requires a user to clone or check out the crafted repository; the overwrite can lead to code execution in that user's context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability22.60%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
Coverage for this vulnerability

See if you're affected

Explore vulnerability checks for your environment with Hinoki.

Book a demo

Summary

What happened

Arbitrary file overwrite in Git for Microsoft Visual Studio 2017 and 2019 allows remote attackers to write files via a crafted repository. Checkout path handling accepts backslashes in tracked tree entries and follows malicious symlinks, allowing writes to escape the work tree. Exploitation requires a user to clone or check out the crafted repository; the overwrite can lead to code execution in that user's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2019-1354
Published
Jan 24, 2020
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019
Classifications
CWE-20, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Jan 24, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 2024Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

Compare your product and version with the public record. A matching version still requires validation against your environment.

Is a vulnerable build present?

Compare these published version ranges with your installed build and any vendor patches.

  1. Affected versionversion=16.0
  2. Affected versionversion=unspecified

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019version=16.0; version=unspecified
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2017version=15.0; version=unspecified

Published CVSS scores

9.3NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C
8.8NIST National Vulnerability DatabaseCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

CVSS describes severity. EPSS estimates exploitation probability.

Attacks

What attackers are doing with it

Daily unique IPs observed by Shadowserver honeypots for known exploited vulnerabilities (KEVs). Missing observations do not establish an absence of attacks.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 9, 2026Sep 15, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 15, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-20Improper Input Validation
T1204.002Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

Labels summarize the accepted research assessment. They do not indicate a test against your environment.

Technologies

Your stack

See the directory against your own environment.

Your stack

Check the software in your environment

Book a demo to see how Hinoki identifies affected software and validates exploitability in your environment.

Book a demo