Github
CVE-2026-21516
HIGH
Attack ChainAIDerived
Hypothetical attack flow derived from CVE metadata – not a confirmed exploit chain
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AccessCraft malicious input with special shell characters
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DeliverySend input to Copilot-integrated IDE
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ExploitCopilot processes unsanitized input
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ExecutionInject arbitrary commands
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ImpactExecute code in IDE context
Vulnerability Assessment
| Weakness |
CWE
OWASP Top 10:2025
A05:2025 - Injection
ASVS 5.0
V1 - Encoding and Sanitization Command injection prevention
MITRE ATT&CK
1 technique across 1 tactic: Execution The technique list with ATT&CK links and the kill-chain view is part of the Basic plan and up. |
| Exploitation Conditions | GitHub Copilot integration enabled in development environment. User interaction required to process attacker-crafted input through Copilot suggestions or code generation features. |
| Impact | CVSS 8.8 (HIGH). Attack vector: Network. Complexity: Low. Privileges required: None. User interaction: Required. Exploitation no authentication required. Exploitable via remote/network. |
| Exploit ScenarioDerived | A remote attacker without authentication could exploit this vulnerability to compromise the affected system. |
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Alert meAnalysisAIv1 – Mar 12, 2026
GitHub Copilot is vulnerable to command injection attacks that enable remote code execution without requiring authentication or user interaction beyond a click. An attacker can exploit this network-accessible vulnerability to execute arbitrary commands on affected systems. No patch is currently available for this high-severity vulnerability.
Earlier versions of this analysis (1)
Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Github Copilot allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network. [CVSS 8.8 HIGH]
RemediationAI
Monitor vendor advisories for a patch. Restrict network access to the affected service where possible.
Affected Packages
Source: OSV (Open Source Vulnerabilities)
Affects your stack
Affects 1 package in microsoft
Checking this CVE against your own stacks and servers is part of the Basic plan and up.
Technical ContextAI · show details
Classified as CWE-77 (Command Injection). Affects Github Copilot. Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Github Copilot allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
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- Exploit and PoC references, threat intelligence from 22 sources
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Severity by source
AV:N/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H
Primary rating from NVD · only source for this CVE.
CVSS VectorNVD
DescriptionCVE.org
Improper neutralization of special elements used in a command ('command injection') in Github Copilot allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
Executive ViewAI
A critical command injection vulnerability in GitHub Copilot (CVE-2026-21516) allows attackers to execute arbitrary code through the platform, potentially compromising any organization using this service. This poses an immediate risk to development teams and could enable unauthorized access to source code, credentials, and internal systems if exploited.
Disable GitHub Copilot features in production development environments until patch availability is confirmed; implement mandatory human code review for all AI-generated suggestions; deploy network segmentation to limit Copilot's communication scope; apply WAF rules to detect and block command injection patterns; restrict Copilot access to non-sensitive repositories only; monitor and log all Copilot activity for anomalies.
Threat Intelligence Overview
NVD
CVE.org
EPSS
How this decision was reached
The engine reads each signal below and applies a fixed list of rules from top to bottom. The first rule that matches sets the recommended action – like a statement, every line is shown.
What every action level means
SSVC AssessmentENISA
Priority Score
Attack Technique
OS command injection occurs when an application passes unsanitized user input directly into system shell commands.
Affected Products (CPE)CVE.org
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Unauthenticated infrastructure overwrite in Hoppscotch API development ecosystem before 2026.2.0. Attackers can overwrit
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OneUptime versions prior to 10.0.19 allow unauthenticated attackers to hijack GitHub App integrations across projects by
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Path traversal in esm.sh CDN prior to version 0.0.0-20260116051925-c62ab83c589e allows unauthenticated remote attackers
actions/artifact is the GitHub ToolKit for developing GitHub Actions. Rated high severity (CVSS 7.5), this vulnerability
GitHub PoC
Exploit-DB