CVE-2021-27068Network attack vector

Code execution via planted workspace Python interpreter

Published May 11, 2021 · Updated Nov 19, 2024

Remote code execution in affected Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 releases allows attackers to run code through a crafted Python workspace. Interpreter discovery selects and launches python.exe from the workspace's scripts subfolder when the workspace is opened. The attacker must supply the crafted workspace and have it opened; successful exploitation runs code in the Visual Studio user's context.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability53.58%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Remote code execution in affected Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 releases allows attackers to run code through a crafted Python workspace. Interpreter discovery selects and launches python.exe from the workspace's scripts subfolder when the workspace is opened. The attacker must supply the crafted workspace and have it opened; successful exploitation runs code in the Visual Studio user's context.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-27068
Published
May 11, 2021
Updated
Nov 19, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.7
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
authenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Nov 19, 2024Record 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=16.0.0 <publication

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.7version=16.0.0 <publication
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.4version=16.0 <publication
Microsoft · Microsoft Visual Studio 2019 version 16.9version=15.0.0 <publication

Published CVSS scores

8.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:L/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.5NIST NVDAV:N/AC:L/Au:S/C:P/I:P/A:P

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

Weakness, pattern, technique

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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