# CVE-2026-54981: Visual Studio Code Python Extension Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability

> An attacker can bypass security features in the VS Code Python extension by including functionality from an untrusted control sphere.

- **Severity:** High 7.8 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/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:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 11 Aug 2026
- **Updated:** 28 Oct 2026
- **Also known as:** GHSA-pwwh-635g-q245

## What is CVE-2026-54981?

CVE-2026-54981 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Python extension for Visual Studio Code, published on 11 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Inclusion of functionality from untrusted control sphere in Visual Studio Code - Python extension allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature locally.

Weakness: CWE-829 (Inclusion of Functionality from Untrusted Control Sphere), CWE-693 (Protection Mechanism Failure)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2026-54981?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Python.

## How do I fix CVE-2026-54981?

No fix has been published for CVE-2026-54981 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2026-54981 being exploited?

There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-54981 in the wild and no public exploit code.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Python extension for Visual Studio Code

- [CVE-2024-49050](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-49050/): Visual Studio Code Python Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2020-1171](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1171/): Visual Studio Code Python Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2025-49714](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2025-49714/): Visual Studio Code Python Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-17163](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-17163/): Visual Studio Code Python Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 7.8)
- [CVE-2020-1192](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2020-1192/): Visual Studio Code Python Extension Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 7.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2026-54981 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2026-54981 is a high-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Python extension for Visual Studio Code, published on 11 Aug 2026. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: There is no known exploitation of CVE-2026-54981 in the wild and no public exploit code.

Affected product: Microsoft Python extension for Visual Studio Code. 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-2026-54981/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54981/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-54981
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-54981
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2026-54981

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From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-54981/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.