CVE-2026-54525

8.8 HIGH 0.4% exploit odds Fix listed Injection

What it is

Markdown Preview Enhanced is a Markdown preview extension for Visual Studio Code. Prior to 0.8.28, Markdown Preview Enhanced preview-link handling passes a decoded, Markdown-controlled link target to a Windows file-opening helper that invokes child_process.exec with the start command. When a Windows user opens an untrusted Markdown file and clicks a crafted external or unsupported-scheme link, shell metacharacters in the decoded target are interpreted by cmd.exe as command separators, allowing an attacker-selected command to run with the privileges of the current VS Code user. The attack requires one normal preview-link click but does not require malicious workspace configuration, script execution to be enabled, or additional files. This issue is fixed in version 0.8.28.

At a glance

Exploitability: Can be exploited over the network without logging in, but needs a user to act. High risk of data exposure, data tampering, service disruption.
Exploit odds: 0.4% chance of exploitation in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Fix: A patch, advisory or fixed version is referenced. Upgrade or apply it.

Timeline

2026-06-15 18:40 UTC ReservedThe CVE id was reserved by its CNA
2026-10-14 19:17 UTC PublishedDisclosed publicly on CVE.org and NVD
2026-10-16 16:00 UTC Last updatedMost recent change to the record

Why it ranks here

Exploited in the wild: no, CISA does not list it.
Exploit odds: 0.4% in the next 30 days (EPSS).
Severity: 8.8 HIGH (CVSS).
Fix: a patch or advisory is linked.

Details

Published: 2026-10-14 19:17 UTC
Last modified: 2026-10-16 16:00 UTC
Exploit probability: 0.4% · EPSS, next 30 days
Weakness: CWE-78 · OS command injection
Record status: Awaiting Analysis

Attack profile CVSS 3.1 · 8.8

Attack vector: Network
Complexity: Low
Privileges needed: None
User interaction: Required
Scope: Unchanged
Confidentiality: High
Integrity: High
Availability: High

Raw vector

CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Is it in your code?

Hand this to your coding agent. It searches your project for the affected products and checks versions. Nothing leaves your machine.

Read https://cve-list.com/agent/cve/CVE-2026-54525.md and follow it. Check whether this project is affected by CVE-2026-54525. Read only. Don't change anything and don't upload my code. Tell me yes, no or not sure, with the file as proof.

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Fix and advisories

References

NVD record · CVE.org record