CVE-2021-43891Public exploit

Arbitrary command execution via untrusted Git configuration

Published Dec 15, 2021 · Updated Aug 4, 2024

Code execution in Visual Studio Code before 1.63.1 allows context-dependent attackers to run commands through a crafted Git folder. The built-in Git extension invokes Git before Workspace Trust approval, causing repository-local core.fsmonitor commands to execute. A target must obtain the folder outside a normal Git clone and open it; the command runs with the target user's privileges.

CVSS severity7.8
High
EPSS probability13.07%
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 Visual Studio Code before 1.63.1 allows context-dependent attackers to run commands through a crafted Git folder. The built-in Git extension invokes Git before Workspace Trust approval, causing repository-local core.fsmonitor commands to execute. A target must obtain the folder outside a normal Git clone and open it; the command runs with the target user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2021-43891
Published
Dec 15, 2021
Updated
Aug 4, 2024
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Visual Studio Code
Classifications
T1204.002
Attack vector
local
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Dec 15, 2021CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Aug 4, 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 <1.63.1

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectorlocal
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Visual Studio Codeversion=1.0.0 <1.63.1

Published CVSS scores

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

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 exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

T1204.002User Execution: Malicious File

Public exploit references

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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