CVE-2026-54525Public exploitNetwork attack vectorHinoki check available

Code execution via Windows preview-link command injection

Published Oct 14, 2026 · Updated Oct 14, 2026

Command injection in Markdown Preview Enhanced before 0.8.28 allows remote attackers to run commands via preview links on Windows. The openFile helper passes a decoded, Markdown-controlled link target to child_process.exec with start, allowing cmd.exe to interpret shell metacharacters as command separators. Exploitation requires opening untrusted Markdown and clicking a crafted external or unsupported-scheme link; commands run with the current VS Code user's privileges without enabling script execution or supplying workspace configuration.

CVSS severity8.8
High
EPSS probability0.43%
Next 30 days · Oct 19, 2026
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Based on sourced intelligence
Hinoki checkAvailable
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Summary

What happened

Command injection in Markdown Preview Enhanced before 0.8.28 allows remote attackers to run commands via preview links on Windows. The openFile helper passes a decoded, Markdown-controlled link target to child_process.exec with start, allowing cmd.exe to interpret shell metacharacters as command separators. Exploitation requires opening untrusted Markdown and clicking a crafted external or unsupported-scheme link; commands run with the current VS Code user's privileges without enabling script execution or supplying workspace configuration.

The record

CVE
CVE-2026-54525
Published
Oct 14, 2026
Updated
Oct 14, 2026
Vendor
shd101wyy
Product
Markdown Preview Enhanced
Classifications
CWE-78, T1203, T1059.003, T1204.001
Attack vector
network
Privileges
unauthenticated

Timeline

How it unfolded

  1. Oct 14, 2026CVE publishedPublication date reported by the CVE source.
  2. Oct 14, 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=< 0.8.28

What conditions does exploitation require?

Attack vectornetwork
Required privilegesunauthenticated

What is affected?

shd101wyy · Markdown Preview Enhancedversion=< 0.8.28

Published CVSS scores

8.8GitHub_MCVSS: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.

Activity data is delayed. The latest report is Sep 28, 2026.

Daily unique IPsNo honeypot observations are available for this CVE in the selected window.

No observations available

Sep 22, 2026Sep 28, 2026
Latest reporting daySep 28, 2026
Latest daily unique IPsUnavailable
Prior 30-day averageUnavailable
SourceShadowserver honeypots (KEV)
Vectornetwork
Privilegesunauthenticated
Known exploitationUnconfirmed
Public exploitPublished

Weakness, pattern, technique

CWE-78Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in an OS Command ('OS Command Injection')
T1203Exploitation for Client Execution
T1059.003Windows Command Shell
T1204.001Malicious Link

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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