How severe is CVE-2021-22539?

CVE-2021-22539 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.

Is CVE-2021-22539 being actively exploited?

It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (23rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.

What products are affected by CVE-2021-22539?

CVE-2021-22539 affects Google Bazel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.

How do I fix CVE-2021-22539?

Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.

When was CVE-2021-22539 published?

CVE-2021-22539 was published on 2021-04-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

CVE-2021-22539

CVE-2021-22539 is a high-severity vulnerability in Google Bazel with a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2. It is not currently listed as actively exploited by CISA, and its EPSS exploit-prediction score is low. The underlying weakness is classified as CWE-668.

Key facts

Severity: High (CVSS 3.x base score 8.2)
CVSS v2: 6.8
EPSS exploit prediction: 0% (23rd percentile)
Actively exploited: Not listed in CISA KEV
Weakness: CWE-668
Affected product: Google Bazel
Published: 2021-04-16
Last modified: 2026-06-17

Description

An attacker can place a crafted JSON config file into the project folder pointing to a custom executable. VScode-bazel allows the workspace path to lint *.bzl files to be set via this config file. As such the attacker is able to execute any executable on the system through vscode-bazel. We recommend upgrading to version 0.4.1 or above.

Frequently asked questions

What is CVE-2021-22539?: An attacker can place a crafted JSON config file into the project folder pointing to a custom executable. VScode-bazel allows the workspace path to lint *.bzl files to be set via this config file. As such the attacker is able to execute any executable on the system through vscode-bazel. We recommend upgrading to version 0.4.1 or above.
How severe is CVE-2021-22539?: CVE-2021-22539 has a CVSS 3.x base score of 8.2, rated high severity. It is exploitable over local access with low attack complexity, requires low privileges and user interaction. Impact on confidentiality is high, integrity high, and availability high.
Is CVE-2021-22539 being actively exploited?: It is not currently listed in CISA's KEV catalog. Its EPSS exploit-prediction score is 0% (23rd percentile), an estimate of the probability of exploitation in the next 30 days.
What products are affected by CVE-2021-22539?: CVE-2021-22539 affects Google Bazel. See the affected-products list for the exact vulnerable versions.
How do I fix CVE-2021-22539?: Review the linked vendor and NVD advisories for patched versions and mitigations, then upgrade or apply the recommended workaround. Given its high severity, prioritise patching exposed systems.
When was CVE-2021-22539 published?: CVE-2021-22539 was published on 2021-04-16 and last updated on 2026-06-17.

References

Affected products (1)

cpe:2.3:a:google:bazel:*:*:*:*:*:visual_studio:*:*

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