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CVE-2026-102238 Microsoft CVE debrief

CVE-2026-102238 debrief based on the supplied source corpus. The CVE record was published on 2026-10-13T18:59:28.040Z and has not been modified since then. This critical vulnerability in Visual Studio Code allows remote code execution due to improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory. Defenders responsible for Visual Studio Code deployments, especially those with network-exposed instances, should assess exposure and prioritize patching or mitigating controls. The CVE Program record and NVD vulnerability detail provide official information on the vulnerability. Microsoft's advisory indicates a patch is available. The vulnerability class is a path traversal issue,

Vendor
Microsoft
Product
Visual Studio Code
CVSS
CRITICAL 9.6
CISA KEV
Not listed in stored evidence
Original CVE published
2026-10-13
Original CVE updated
2026-10-14
Advisory published
2026-10-13
Advisory updated
2026-10-14

Who should care

Defenders responsible for Visual Studio Code deployments, especially those with network-exposed instances, should assess exposure and prioritize patching or mitigating controls.

Why it matters

CVE-2026-102238 is a critical vulnerability in Visual Studio Code that allows remote code execution. Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure, applying patches, and monitoring for suspicious activity, especially in network-exposed deployments.

  • Remote code execution attacks may be possible without user interaction
  • Network-exposed Visual Studio Code instances are at higher risk
  • Patching or mitigating controls should be prioritized for exposed instances

Technical summary

CVE-2026-102238 is a critical remote code execution vulnerability in Visual Studio Code due to improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory, allowing an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network. The vulnerability affects Visual Studio Code deployments, particularly those exposed to the network, and defenders should prioritize verifying exposure, applying patches, and monitoring for suspicious activity. The CVE Program record and NVD vulnerability detail provide official information on the vulnerability.

Defensive priority

Defenders should prioritize verifying exposure of Visual Studio Code to remote code execution attacks, especially in network-exposed deployments.

Recommended defensive actions

  • Verify Visual Studio Code deployments for exposure to remote code execution attacks
  • Apply patches or updates provided by Microsoft
  • Monitor network-exposed Visual Studio Code instances for suspicious activity

Evidence notes

The CVE Program record and NVD vulnerability detail provide official information on the vulnerability. Microsoft's advisory indicates a patch is available.

Sources and references

Verified primary and authoritative sources

  • CVE-2026-102238 CVE Program record

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2026-102238

    CVE Program - Official CVE Program record with source-provided CVE metadata.

  • CVE-2026-102238 NVD vulnerability detail

    Publisher, destination, and source semantics verified

    URL: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2026-102238

    NIST National Vulnerability Database - Official NIST NVD detail page and source-specific vulnerability assessment.

Supplemental references

  • Visual Studio Code Remote Code Execution Vulnerability

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://raw.githubusercontent.com/CVEProject/cvelistV5/main/cves/2026/102xxx/CVE-2026-102238.json

    cve_program_cvelist_v5

  • Source reference

    Unverified legacy reference

    URL: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-102238

    Supplemental source - vendor-advisory, patch

Methodology and review provenance

AI-assisted synthesis based on stored public vulnerability evidence. System validation, approval state, and publication status do not by themselves establish human review of this revision. PatchSiren helps prioritize defensive review and does not prove exposure or remediation on any system.