CVE-2026-78461: CWE-22: Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory ('Path Traversal') in Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Description
Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('path traversal') in Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.
CVSS v3.1
Score 7.4high
Affected software
Microsoft
Visual Studio Code
pkg:github/microsoft/vscodeRun on your own infrastructure? Check whether these packages are installed with threat-finder — our free open-source scanner.
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability (CWE-22) in Visual Studio Code involves improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, enabling an attacker to bypass security features remotely. The flaw allows unauthorized access to restricted directories via crafted pathnames. The vulnerability affects Visual Studio Code versions 1.0.0 and all versions from 1.0.0 up to 1.136.2. Microsoft has published an official fix to address this issue.
Potential Impact
An attacker can bypass security restrictions remotely by exploiting the path traversal vulnerability, potentially gaining unauthorized access to restricted directories. The vulnerability does not impact integrity or availability but has a high confidentiality impact as indicated by the CVSS vector.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users should apply the update to Visual Studio Code version 1.136.2 or later to remediate this vulnerability. Refer to the Microsoft security advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-78461 for detailed patch information.
Technical Details
- Data Version
- 5.2
- Assigner Short Name
- microsoft
- Date Reserved
- 2026-08-24T16:21:50.287Z
- Cvss Version
- 3.1
- State
- PUBLISHED
- Remediation Level
- official-fix
- Vendor Advisory Urls
- [{"url":"https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-78461","vendor":"Microsoft"}]
Threat ID: 6aa04561acd9273b49faa1b9
Added to database: 09/08/2026, 17:26:57 UTC
Last enriched: 10/14/2026, 22:01:09 UTC
Last updated: 10/23/2026, 15:10:15 UTC
Views: 26
Community Reviews
0 reviewsCrowdsource mitigation strategies, share intel context, and vote on the most helpful responses. Sign in to add your voice and help keep defenders ahead.
Want to contribute mitigation steps or threat intel context? Sign in or create an account to join the community discussion.
Actions
Updates to AI analysis require Pro Console access. Upgrade inside Console → Billing.
External Links
Need more coverage?
Upgrade to Pro Console for AI refresh and higher limits.
For incident response and remediation, OffSeq services can help resolve threats faster.
Latest Threats
Check if your credentials are on the dark web
Instant breach scanning across billions of leaked records. Free tier available.