High severity · published Oct 16, 2020
CVE-2020-16977
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when the Python extension loads a Jupyter notebook file
7.0
CVSS
3.4%
EPSS
No
On KEV
Description
<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when the Python extension loads a Jupyter notebook file. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.</p>
<p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to convince a target to open a specially crafted file in Visual Studio Code with the Python extension installed.</p>
<p>The update addresses the vulnerability by modifying the way Visual Studio Code Python extension renders notebook content.</p>
CVSS vector
CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:H/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Attack vector
Local
Complexity
High
Privileges
None
User interaction
Required
Confidentiality
High
Integrity
High
Availability
High
Scope
Unchanged
Exploitation
Is it being used?
Exploit prediction (EPSS)3.4% · higher than 89% of CVEs
Exploited in the wildNo evidence yet
CISA KEVNot listed
Ransomware campaign useNot known
Affected products
Which versions
VS
Visual Studio Code · Microsoft
All versions, or not specified · source: NVD
References
NVD
https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-16977
CVE.org
https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2020-16977
Patch
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16977
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