A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when the Python extension loads configuration files after opening a project. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to convince a target to clone a repository and open it in Visual Studio Code with the Python extension installed. Attacker-specified code would execute when the target opened the integrated terminal. The update address the vulnerability by modifying the way Visual Studio Code Python extension handles environment variables.
History

Wed, 19 Aug 2026 16:45:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
Description A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when the Python extension loads configuration files after opening a project, aka 'Visual Studio Code Python Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. This CVE ID is unique from CVE-2020-1192. A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when the Python extension loads configuration files after opening a project. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to convince a target to clone a repository and open it in Visual Studio Code with the Python extension installed. Attacker-specified code would execute when the target opened the integrated terminal. The update address the vulnerability by modifying the way Visual Studio Code Python extension handles environment variables.
Title Visual Studio Code Python Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
First Time appeared Microsoft visual Studio Code
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_code:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft visual Studio Code
References

Tue, 08 Jul 2025 20:30:00 +0000

Type Values Removed Values Added
First Time appeared Microsoft python
CPEs cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_code:*:*:*:*:*:python:*:* cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:python:*:*:*:*:*:visual_studio_code:*:*
Vendors & Products Microsoft visual Studio Code
Microsoft python

cve-icon MITRE

Status: PUBLISHED

Assigner: microsoft

Published:

Updated: 2026-08-19T16:34:14.911Z

Reserved: 2019-11-04T00:00:00.000Z

Link: CVE-2020-1171

cve-icon Vulnrichment

No data.

cve-icon NVD

Status : Modified

Published: 2020-05-21T23:15:17.897

Modified: 2026-08-19T17:17:28.833

Link: CVE-2020-1171

cve-icon Redhat

No data.

cve-icon OpenCVE Enrichment

No data.