CVE-2026-21518Network attack vector

Remote code execution via unvalidated mcp.json commands

Published Feb 10, 2026 · Updated Feb 10, 2026

Command injection in Microsoft Visual Studio Code before 1.110.1 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious project. The mcp.json handler passes a user-supplied command string to a system call without validating its special elements or demanding workspace trust. Exploitation requires a user to open the project and runs commands with the user's privileges.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability1.41%
Next 30 days · Sep 16, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkNot available
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Microsoft Visual Studio Code before 1.110.1 allows remote attackers to execute code through a malicious project. The mcp.json handler passes a user-supplied command string to a system call without validating its special elements or demanding workspace trust. Exploitation requires a user to open the project and runs commands with the user's privileges.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-21518
Published
Feb 10, 2026
Updated
Feb 10, 2026
Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Visual Studio Code
Classifications
CWE-77, T1204.002
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Feb 10, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Feb 10, 2026Record 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 <1.109.2

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

Microsoft · Visual Studio Codeversion=1.0.0 <1.109.2

Published CVSS scores

8.8Microsoft CorporationCVSS:3.1/AV:N/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)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitUnconfirmed

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-77Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection')
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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