Markdown Preview Enhanced Arbitrary Code Execution via Bitfield interpretJS()
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Network
- Privileges required
- None
- User interaction
- Active
- Attack complexity
- Low
- Attack requirements
- None
- Impact type
- Code execution
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 4.0 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-94.
Summary
Markdown Preview Enhanced before 0.8.28 parses Bitfield fenced code blocks with interpretJS(), which evaluates the block content as code via vm.runInNewContext(), allowing arbitrary code execution. A crafted markdown document containing a malicious bitfield code block executes attacker-controlled code on the server side when the document is rendered or exported. Fixed in 0.8.28 by parsing bitfield register definitions with JSON5.parse(), since they are purely data.
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
- Fix · CNA Markdown Preview Enhanced (shd101wyy) Fixed in 0.8.28
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
shd101wyy Markdown Preview Enhanced 0.8.28
3 records Highest priority Priority HIGH 1 HIGH, 2 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-37396 Markdown Preview Enhanced Arbitrary Code Execution via WaveDrom eval()Priority HIGH 72
- TI-2026-36642 Markdown Preview Enhanced OS Command Injection in External File and Link OpeningPriority LOW 39
Timeline
- 2026-10-02 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-49493
- 2026-10-03 Alias added: GHSA-m5v2-jw65-jh59
- 2026-10-25 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
References
Other 1
More shd101wyy vulnerabilities
- TI-2025-40425 An issue in Visual Studio Code Extensions Markdown Preview Enhanced v0.8.18 allows… CVSS 3.1HIGH 8.8
- TI-2026-74453 Sandbox escape in Markdown Preview Enhanced allows code execution CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.5
- TI-2026-37396 Markdown Preview Enhanced Arbitrary Code Execution via WaveDrom eval() CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.6
- TI-2026-09857 Markdown Preview Enhanced 0.8.x Code Injection via WaveDrom Rendering CVSS 4.0HIGH 8.4
- TI-2026-74455 Unvalidated command dispatch in Markdown Preview Enhanced extension CVSS 4.0HIGH 7.3
- TI-2026-74454 Cross-site scripting in Markdown Preview Enhanced VS Code extension CVSS 4.0MEDIUM 6.9
Sources
- CVE-2026-49493 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-49493 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-m5v2-jw65-jh59 · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences