CVE-2021-31211

Code execution via crafted remote terminal settings

Published May 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Remote code execution in Microsoft Visual Studio Code before 1.56 allows local users to run arbitrary code via crafted remote terminal settings. Public records identify crafted remote terminal settings as the trigger but do not disclose the affected function or missing validation. Exploitation requires user interaction with attacker-controlled content, after which arbitrary code runs with the affected user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability2.52%
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 1.56 allows local users to run arbitrary code via crafted remote terminal settings. Public records identify crafted remote terminal settings as the trigger but do not disclose the affected function or missing validation. Exploitation requires user interaction with attacker-controlled content, after which arbitrary code runs with the affected user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31211
Published
May 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Visual Studio Code
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. May 11, 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 <1.56

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Visual Studio Codeversion=1.0.0 <1.56

Published CVSS scores

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

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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