CVE-2023-21808

Code execution via malicious debugging symbols

Published Feb 14, 2023 · Updated Aug 19, 2026

Use-after-free in the MSDIA SDK in .NET and Visual Studio allows context-dependent attackers to execute code through malicious debugging symbols. The debugging-symbol reader dereferences an untrusted pointer after its target memory has been freed, allowing crafted symbol data to corrupt process memory. Exploitation requires a user or application to read the malicious symbols, after which code executes in the consuming process's security context.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability1.15%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Use-after-free in the MSDIA SDK in .NET and Visual Studio allows context-dependent attackers to execute code through malicious debugging symbols. The debugging-symbol reader dereferences an untrusted pointer after its target memory has been freed, allowing crafted symbol data to corrupt process memory. Exploitation requires a user or application to read the malicious symbols, after which code executes in the consuming process's security context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2023-21808
Published
Feb 14, 2023
Updated
Aug 19, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019
Classifications
CWE-416, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 14, 2023CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 19, 2026Record updatedLatest update available in the CVE record.

Exploitability

Present is not the same as exploitable

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Is a vulnerable build present?

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

  1. Affected versionversion=16.11.0 <16.11.24

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019version=16.11.0 <16.11.24
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8.1version=4.8.1 <10.0.09139.02
Microsoft · .NET 6.0version=6.0.0 <6.0.14
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.6.2version=4.7.0 <10.0.10240.19747
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.8version=4.8.0 <10.0.04614.06
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2015version=14.0.0 <14.0.27555.0
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2013version=12.0.0 <12.0.40700.0
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.4version=17.4.0 <17.4.5
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.0version=17.0.0 <17.0.19
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.2version=17.2.0 <17.2.13
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2017version=15.9.0 <15.9.52
Microsoft · .NET 7.0version=7.0.0 <7.0.3
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 3.5 and 4.7.2version=4.7.0 <10.0.04038.03
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Frameworkversion=4.7.0 <4.7.04614.08
Microsoft · PowerShell 7.2version=7.2.0 <7.2.10
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 4.6.2version=4.7.0 <4.7.04038.06
Microsoft · Microsoft .NET Framework 4.8version=4.8.0 <4.8.04614.05

Published CVSS scores

7.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:L/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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-416Use After Free
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

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Your stack

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