CVE-2026-78462: CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Authorization bypass through user-controlled key in Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.
AI Analysis
Technical Summary
This vulnerability, identified as CWE-639, involves an authorization bypass in Visual Studio Code caused by improper handling of user-controlled keys. An attacker can exploit this flaw remotely without privileges and with only user interaction to bypass security features. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8, indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has published an official fix to remediate this issue.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to bypass authorization mechanisms, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive functions or data within Visual Studio Code. The impact includes full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected software environment.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users and administrators should apply the patch provided in the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-78462 to remediate this vulnerability.
CVE-2026-78462: CWE-639: Authorization Bypass Through User-Controlled Key in Microsoft Visual Studio Code
Description
Authorization bypass through user-controlled key in Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized attacker to bypass a security feature over a network.
CVSS v3.1
Score 8.8high
Affected software
Weaknesses
AI-Powered Analysis
Machine-generated threat intelligence
Technical Analysis
This vulnerability, identified as CWE-639, involves an authorization bypass in Visual Studio Code caused by improper handling of user-controlled keys. An attacker can exploit this flaw remotely without privileges and with only user interaction to bypass security features. The vulnerability has a CVSS v3.1 base score of 8.8, indicating high impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability. Microsoft has published an official fix to remediate this issue.
Potential Impact
Successful exploitation allows an attacker to bypass authorization mechanisms, potentially gaining unauthorized access to sensitive functions or data within Visual Studio Code. The impact includes full compromise of confidentiality, integrity, and availability of the affected software environment.
Mitigation Recommendations
An official fix is available from Microsoft. Users and administrators should apply the patch provided in the Microsoft Security Response Center advisory at https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-78462 to remediate this vulnerability.
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-2026-78462","vendor":"Microsoft"}]
Threat ID: 6aa04561acd9273b49faa1bc
Added to database: 09/08/2026, 17:26:57 UTC
Last enriched: 09/08/2026, 20:22:16 UTC
Last updated: 09/08/2026, 23:53:30 UTC
Views: 4
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