CVE-2021-31213

Code execution during untrusted repository cloning

Published May 11, 2021 · Updated Aug 3, 2024

Remote code execution in Microsoft Visual Studio Code Dev Containers before 1.56 allows attackers to run code through repository cloning. Microsoft states that the Clone Repository in Container Volume flow executes code from a cloned repository without adequate user awareness, but no code-level cause is public. The victim must invoke the clone-into-volume workflow on an attacker-controlled repository, after which code runs with the extension host privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability52.75%
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 Dev Containers before 1.56 allows attackers to run code through repository cloning. Microsoft states that the Clone Repository in Container Volume flow executes code from a cloned repository without adequate user awareness, but no code-level cause is public. The victim must invoke the clone-into-volume workflow on an attacker-controlled repository, after which code runs with the extension host privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-31213
Published
May 11, 2021
Updated
Aug 3, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Visual Studio Code Dev Containers
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 Code Dev Containersversion=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

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

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious 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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