# CVE-2021-43907: Visual Studio Code WSL Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

> An attacker can execute arbitrary code via the Visual Studio Code WSL Extension, posing a risk to developers using this tool.

- **Severity:** Critical 9.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:N/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H/E:U/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Not needed
- **Attackable:** Over the internet
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 15 Dec 2021
- **Updated:** 4 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pq7c-f7ch-qfh7

## What is CVE-2021-43907?

CVE-2021-43907 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio Code WSL Extension, published on 15 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

Visual Studio Code WSL Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2021-43907?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux.

## How do I fix CVE-2021-43907?

No fix has been published for CVE-2021-43907 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2021-43907 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-43907 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Visual Studio Code WSL Extension

- [CVE-2025-62220](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-62220/): Windows Subsystem for Linux GUI Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-57968](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-57968/): Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2026-85879](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-85879/): Windows Subsystem for Linux Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (high 7.0)
- [CVE-2025-53788](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-53788/): Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL2) Kernel Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (high 7.0)
- [CVE-2026-96206](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-96206/): Windows Subsystem for Linux Information Disclosure Vulnerability (medium 6.5)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2021-43907 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2021-43907 is a critical code injection vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio Code WSL Extension, published on 15 Dec 2021. An attacker can exploit it over the internet without logging in, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2021-43907 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Visual Studio Code WSL Extension. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43907/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43907/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2021-43907
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2021-43907
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2021-43907

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2021-43907/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.