Remote code execution via unsafe environment handling
Published May 21, 2020 · Updated Aug 19, 2026
Remote code execution in Microsoft Python extension for Visual Studio Code before 2020.5.0 allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted repository. The extension loads attacker-controlled project configuration and environment variables when a cloned project is opened, then runs that content as the integrated terminal starts. Exploitation requires convincing a user to clone and open the repository with the Python extension installed; code runs with the current user's rights, including administrative control when those rights are present.
Summary
What happened
Remote code execution in Microsoft Python extension for Visual Studio Code before 2020.5.0 allows remote attackers to execute code via a crafted repository. The extension loads attacker-controlled project configuration and environment variables when a cloned project is opened, then runs that content as the integrated terminal starts. Exploitation requires convincing a user to clone and open the repository with the Python extension installed; code runs with the current user's rights, including administrative control when those rights are present.
The record
- CVE
- CVE-2020-1171
- Published
- May 21, 2020
- Updated
- Aug 19, 2026
- Vendor
- Microsoft
- Product
- Python extension for Visual Studio Code
- Classifications
- T1204.002
- Attack vector
- network
- Privileges
- unauthenticated
Timeline
How it unfolded
- May 21, 2020CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
- 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?
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- Affected versionversion=2020 <publication
What conditions does exploitation require?
What is affected?
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.
Weakness, pattern, technique
Public exploit references
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Technologies
Your stack
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Your stack
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