CVE-2026-21518: CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') in Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Code CoPilot Chat Extension
Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability (CWE-77) in the Microsoft Visual Studio Code CoPilot Chat Extension (version 0.27.0) involves improper neutralization of special elements in commands, enabling command injection. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass security controls remotely without privileges and with user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has published an official fix to remediate this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized command execution on the affected system, resulting in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the environment where the vulnerable extension is used. The attacker can bypass security features remotely, potentially executing arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the extension.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users of Microsoft Visual Studio Code CoPilot Chat Extension version 0.27.0 should apply the vendor-provided update immediately to remediate this vulnerability. Refer to the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21518 for the official patch and detailed remediation instructions.
CVE-2026-21518: CWE-77: Improper Neutralization of Special Elements used in a Command ('Command Injection') in Microsoft Microsoft Visual Studio Code CoPilot Chat Extension
Description
Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.8high
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability (CWE-77) in the Microsoft Visual Studio Code CoPilot Chat Extension (version 0.27.0) involves improper neutralization of special elements in commands, enabling command injection. This flaw allows an attacker to bypass security controls remotely without privileges and with user interaction. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.8 reflects high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has published an official fix to remediate this vulnerability.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation can lead to unauthorized command execution on the affected system, resulting in full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the environment where the vulnerable extension is used. The attacker can bypass security features remotely, potentially executing arbitrary commands with the privileges of the user running the extension.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users of Microsoft Visual Studio Code CoPilot Chat Extension version 0.27.0 should apply the vendor-provided update immediately to remediate this vulnerability. Refer to the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21518 for the official patch and detailed remediation instructions.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2025-12-30T18:10:54.845Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- official-fix
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-21518","vendor":"Microsoft"}]
Threat ID: 698b76064b57a58fa120a695
Added to database: 02/10/2026, 18:16:38 UTC
Last enriched: 05/26/2026, 20:13:51 UTC
Last updated: 09/10/2026, 19:36:52 UTC
Views: 294
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