PT-2020-3658 · Microsoft · Visual Studio Code

David Dworken · Published 2020-08-11 · Updated 2026-02-23 · CVE-2020-0604

Positive Technologies (AI Summary)

CVSS v2.0

9.3

High

Base vector

AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

Name of the Vulnerable Software and Affected Versions Visual Studio Code (affected versions not specified)

Description A remote code execution issue exists when Visual Studio Code processes environment variables after opening a project. An attacker who successfully exploits this could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user has administrative rights, the attacker could take control of the system, install programs, view, change, or delete data, or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this, an attacker would need to convince a target to clone a repository and open it in Visual Studio Code, with attacker-specified code executing when the target opens the integrated terminal.

Recommendations At the moment, there is no information about a newer version that contains a fix for this vulnerability.

Improper Privilege Management

Weakness Enumeration

CWE-269

Related Identifiers

BDU:2020-04006

CVE-2020-0604

Affected Products

Visual Studio Code

References · 6

• https://portal.msrc.microsoft.com/en-US/security-guidance/advisory/CVE-2020-0604 · Vendor Advisory
• https://bdu.fstec.ru/vul/2020-04006 · Security Note
• https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2020-0604 · Vendor Advisory
• https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2020-0604 · Security Note
• https://t.me/cvenotify/67936 · Telegram Post
• https://t.me/cveNotify/152886 · Telegram Post