CVE-2021-28477

Remote code execution

Published Apr 13, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Remote code execution in Microsoft Visual Studio Code before 1.55.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted editor content. The Microsoft record does not disclose the specific vulnerable component or operation. Exploitation requires a local user to open attacker-controlled content, after which code execution can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

CVSS severity7.0
High
EPSS probability2.30%
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 Microsoft Visual Studio Code before 1.55.2 allows attackers to execute arbitrary code via crafted editor content. The Microsoft record does not disclose the specific vulnerable component or operation. Exploitation requires a local user to open attacker-controlled content, after which code execution can compromise confidentiality, integrity, and availability.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-28477
Published
Apr 13, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Visual Studio Code
Classifications
T1203
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Apr 13, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 3, 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=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

7.0MicrosoftCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
6.8NVDAV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:P/I:P/A:P
7.8NVDCVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

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)
Vectorlocal
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1203Exploitation for Client Execution

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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