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High

RCE in Visual Studio Code npm-script Extension

IdentifiersCVE-2021-26700CWE-94

CVE-2021-26700 is a remote code execution vulnerability in the Visual Studio Code npm-script extension. The vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on the victim's system if the user is tricked into running a malicious npm script. The attack requires user interaction but does not require authentication or elevated privileges. The vulnerability is referenced in the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory and has a CVSS v3 base score of 7.8.

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For your environment

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ANALYST BRIEF

Impact, mitigation & remediation

What it means. What to do now. Patch path, mitigations, and the assume-compromise checklist.

Impact

What an attacker gets, and what they’ve been doing with it.

Successful exploitation allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running Visual Studio Code. This can lead to full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected system, depending on the attacker's payload.

Mitigation

If you can’t patch tonight, do this now.

Users should avoid running untrusted or suspicious npm scripts within Visual Studio Code. Organizations can restrict the execution of npm scripts from untrusted sources and educate users about the risks of running code from unknown origins. Consider using endpoint protection solutions to detect and block malicious script execution.

Remediation

Patch, then assume compromise.

Update the Visual Studio Code npm-script extension to the latest version as provided by Microsoft. Review the official advisory for specific patch or update instructions. Ensure that all users are running the patched version.
PUBLIC EXPLOITS

Exploits

No public exploits tracked yet. Mallory keeps watching.

VALID 0 / 0 TOTALView more in app

No public exploit code observed for this vulnerability.

EXPOSURE SURFACE

Affected products & vendors

Products and vendors Mallory has correlated with this vulnerability. Open in Mallory to drill down to specific CPE configurations and version ranges.

VendorProductType
Microsoft CorporationNpmapplication

Vendor-confirmed product mapping. Mallory continuously reconciles this list against your asset inventory.

What this page doesn’t show

The version that knows your environment.

This page is what’s public. Mallory adds the parts that aren’t: which of your assets are affected, which adversaries are exploiting it right now, which detections to deploy, and what to do tonight.
Exposure mapping

Query your assets running an affected version, and investigate the blast radius.

Threat actor evidence

Every observed campaign linking this CVE to a named adversary.

Associated malware

Malware families riding this exploit, with evidence and IOCs.

Detection signatures

YARA, Sigma, Snort, and vendor rules, auto-deployed to your SIEM.

Vendor-by-vendor mapping

Cross-references every affected SKU, including bundled OEM variants.

Social activity

Community discussion across Reddit, Mastodon, and other social sources.