7.8
HIGH
CVE-2020-16881
"Visual Studio Code Package.json RCE Vulnerability"
Description

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when a user is tricked into opening a malicious 'package.json' 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 clone a repository and open it in Visual Studio Code. Attacker-specified code would execute when the target opens the malicious 'package.json' file.</p> <p>The update address the vulnerability by modifying the way Visual Studio Code handles JSON files.</p>

INFO

Published Date :

Sept. 11, 2020, 5:15 p.m.

Last Modified :

Dec. 31, 2023, 10:15 p.m.

Remotely Exploitable :

No

Impact Score :

5.9

Exploitability Score :

1.8
Public PoC/Exploit Available at Github

CVE-2020-16881 has a 1 public PoC/Exploit available at Github. Go to the Public Exploits tab to see the list.

Affected Products

The following products are affected by CVE-2020-16881 vulnerability. Even if cvefeed.io is aware of the exact versions of the products that are affected, the information is not represented in the table below.

ID Vendor Product Action
1 Microsoft visual_studio_code
References to Advisories, Solutions, and Tools

Here, you will find a curated list of external links that provide in-depth information, practical solutions, and valuable tools related to CVE-2020-16881.

URL Resource
https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16881 Patch Vendor Advisory

We scan GitHub repositories to detect new proof-of-concept exploits. Following list is a collection of public exploits and proof-of-concepts, which have been published on GitHub (sorted by the most recently updated).

CVE Data Analysis, CVE Monitor, CVE EXP Prediction Based on Deep Learning. 1999-2020年存量CVE数据分析、监控CVE增量更新、基于深度学习的CVE EXP预测和自动化推送

Python

Updated: 2 weeks, 5 days ago
176 stars 24 fork 24 watcher
Born at : June 15, 2020, 2:56 p.m. This repo has been linked 692 different CVEs too.

Results are limited to the first 15 repositories due to potential performance issues.

The following list is the news that have been mention CVE-2020-16881 vulnerability anywhere in the article.

The following table lists the changes that have been made to the CVE-2020-16881 vulnerability over time.

Vulnerability history details can be useful for understanding the evolution of a vulnerability, and for identifying the most recent changes that may impact the vulnerability's severity, exploitability, or other characteristics.

  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    May. 14, 2024

    Action Type Old Value New Value
  • CVE Modified by [email protected]

    Dec. 31, 2023

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed Description A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when a user is tricked into opening a malicious 'package.json' file, aka 'Visual Studio JSON Remote Code Execution Vulnerability'. <p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when a user is tricked into opening a malicious 'package.json' 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 clone a repository and open it in Visual Studio Code. Attacker-specified code would execute when the target opens the malicious 'package.json' file.</p> <p>The update address the vulnerability by modifying the way Visual Studio Code handles JSON files.</p>
    Added CVSS V3.1 Microsoft Corporation AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
  • CWE Remap by [email protected]

    Jul. 21, 2021

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Changed CWE CWE-20 NVD-CWE-noinfo
  • Initial Analysis by [email protected]

    Sep. 17, 2020

    Action Type Old Value New Value
    Added CVSS V2 Metadata Victim must voluntarily interact with attack mechanism
    Added CVSS V2 NIST (AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C)
    Added CVSS V3.1 NIST AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
    Changed Reference Type https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16881 No Types Assigned https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-16881 Patch, Vendor Advisory
    Added CWE NIST CWE-20
    Added CPE Configuration OR *cpe:2.3:a:microsoft:visual_studio_code:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* versions up to (excluding) 1.48.1
EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days. Following chart shows the EPSS score history of the vulnerability.
CWE - Common Weakness Enumeration

While CVE identifies specific instances of vulnerabilities, CWE categorizes the common flaws or weaknesses that can lead to vulnerabilities. CVE-2020-16881 is associated with the following CWEs:

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC)

Common Attack Pattern Enumeration and Classification (CAPEC) stores attack patterns, which are descriptions of the common attributes and approaches employed by adversaries to exploit the CVE-2020-16881 weaknesses.

Exploit Prediction

EPSS is a daily estimate of the probability of exploitation activity being observed over the next 30 days.

1.11 }} -0.02%

score

0.84645

percentile

CVSS31 - Vulnerability Scoring System
Attack Vector
Attack Complexity
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Scope
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