CVE-2025-24998 is a high-severity vulnerability classified under CWE-427 (Uncontrolled Search Path Element) affecting Microsoft Visual Studio 2022 version 17.13, specifically version 17.10. This vulnerability arises from the way Visual Studio handles search paths for loading components or executables. An attacker with authorized local access can manipulate the search path environment to cause the application to load malicious code or libraries instead of legitimate ones. This uncontrolled search path element can lead to privilege escalation, allowing the attacker to gain higher privileges on the affected system than originally granted. The vulnerability requires local access with limited privileges and some user interaction, but no network access is needed. The CVSS v3.1 score is 7.3, indicating a high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. The vulnerability does not currently have known exploits in the wild, but the potential for local privilege escalation makes it a significant risk, especially in development environments where Visual Studio is used. The lack of a patch link suggests that a fix may still be pending or in progress. The vulnerability could be exploited by placing malicious DLLs or executables in directories that Visual Studio searches before the legitimate ones, thereby hijacking the execution flow to escalate privileges.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, particularly for software development companies, IT departments, and enterprises relying on Visual Studio for application development and maintenance. Successful exploitation could allow attackers to escalate privileges on developer workstations or build servers, potentially leading to unauthorized access to sensitive source code, intellectual property, or internal tools. This could also facilitate further lateral movement within corporate networks, increasing the risk of data breaches or sabotage. Given the high confidentiality, integrity, and availability impact, organizations could face operational disruptions, loss of trust, and regulatory penalties under GDPR if sensitive data is compromised. The requirement for local access limits remote exploitation but insider threats or compromised endpoints remain a concern. The absence of known exploits in the wild provides a window for proactive mitigation before widespread attacks occur.

European organizations should immediately audit their environments to identify systems running Visual Studio 2022 version 17.10. Until an official patch is released, implement strict access controls to limit local user privileges and restrict developer workstation access to trusted personnel only. Employ application whitelisting and endpoint protection solutions to detect and block unauthorized DLL or executable loading. Monitor system logs for unusual activity related to Visual Studio processes or unexpected DLL loads. Educate developers and IT staff about the risk of privilege escalation via manipulated search paths and enforce best practices such as avoiding running Visual Studio with elevated privileges unnecessarily. Consider isolating build environments and using virtual machines or containers to limit the impact of potential exploitation. Stay alert for official patches or updates from Microsoft and apply them promptly once available. Additionally, review and harden environment variables and PATH settings to prevent insertion of malicious directories.