CVE-2020-1192

User-assisted code execution via notebook workspace settings

Published May 21, 2020 · Updated Aug 19, 2026

Code execution in the Microsoft Python extension before 2020.5.0 allows attackers to run code by opening a crafted notebook in Visual Studio Code. The notebook workspace-settings loader accepts attacker-controlled execution settings without the user-level enforcement applied by the update, causing extension tooling to launch code as the current user. Exploitation requires the Python extension and user interaction with the file; resulting code can read, change, or delete data accessible to that user.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability4.12%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Code execution in the Microsoft Python extension before 2020.5.0 allows attackers to run code by opening a crafted notebook in Visual Studio Code. The notebook workspace-settings loader accepts attacker-controlled execution settings without the user-level enforcement applied by the update, causing extension tooling to launch code as the current user. Exploitation requires the Python extension and user interaction with the file; resulting code can read, change, or delete data accessible to that user.

The record

CVE
CVE-2020-1192
Published
May 21, 2020
Updated
Aug 19, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Visual Studio Code
Classifications
T1203, T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 21, 2020CVE 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=1.0.0 <publication

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Visual Studio Codeversion=1.0.0 <publication

Published CVSS scores

7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
9.3NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

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.

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No observations available

Sep 10, 2026Sep 16, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 16, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

No public exploit references are available in this record.

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Technologies

Your stack

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Your stack

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