CVE-2026-121662: Visual Studio Code Remote Code Execution Vulnerability
CVE-2026-121662 is a remote code execution vulnerability in Visual Studio Code, rated Important by Microsoft, with a CVSS 3.1 base score of 8.6 (High). An attacker can exploit it by an attacker with local access, without any privileges and only if a user takes an action. Microsoft has not reported exploitation in the wild and rates exploitation as more likely. Microsoft released the fix on 10 November 2026 in the November 2026 Patch Tuesday. It affects 1 product in 1 product family (Developer Tools).
Key facts
- CVE ID
- CVE-2026-121662
- Severity
- High CVSS 8.6
- Microsoft severity
- Important
- Impact
- Remote Code Execution
- Exploited in the wild
- No
- Publicly disclosed
- No
- Exploitation likelihood
- More Likely
- CISA KEV
- Not listed
- Released
- Last updated
- Patch Tuesday
- November 2026 Patch Tuesday
- Product families
- Developer Tools
CVSS score and vector
Microsoft scores CVE-2026-121662 at 8.6 (temporal 7.5) using CVSS 3.1. Vector: CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:C/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C
| Metric | Value |
|---|---|
| Attack vector | Local |
| Attack complexity | Low |
| Privileges required | None |
| User interaction | Required |
| Scope | Changed |
| Confidentiality impact | High |
| Integrity impact | High |
| Availability impact | High |
| Exploit code maturity | Unproven |
| Remediation level | Official fix |
| Report confidence | Confirmed |
Description
Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code locally.
Frequently asked questions (Microsoft)
How could an attacker exploit this vulnerability?
An attacker could convince a user to open a specially crafted Visual Studio Code workspace. Successful exploitation could bypass Workspace Trust protections and allow attacker-controlled content to execute code in the context of the user. User interaction is required, but the user does not need to grant trust.
Affected products (1)
Developer Tools
| Product | Security update | Type | Fixed build | Restart |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Visual Studio Code | Release Notes | Security Update | 1.145.3 |
Acknowledgments
- Bill Hsu
Revision history
| Version | Date | Description |
|---|---|---|
| 1.0 | Information published. |