# CVE-2026-102238: Microsoft Visual Studio Code path traversal remote code execution

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102238-improper-limitation-of-a-pathname-to-a-restricted-directory-path  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-13. Updated: 2026-11-10  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-102238 · Severity: critical · CVSS 9.6 · Published 2026-10-13

Visual Studio Code is a widely-used source code editor deployed across development teams. A path traversal vulnerability allows an attacker to execute arbitrary code on a developer's machine over the network without requiring authentication, potentially compromising the developer's system, credentials, and access to source repositories.

Technologies: [Microsoft Visual Studio Code](https://junglewise.ai/threats/technologies/visual-studio-code). Vendors: [Microsoft](https://junglewise.ai/threats/vendors/microsoft).

## Quick answers

**Is CVE-2026-102238 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-102238 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-102238?** Critical severity, with a CVSS score of 9.6, published 13 October 2026.

**Which products and versions are affected?** Microsoft Visual Studio Code.

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-102238?** No fixed version is recorded yet. Check the vendor's advisory in the references below. If you run it, Junglewise drafts a mitigation that fits your setup and applies it once you approve, with senior security engineers behind it.

**How is CVE-2026-102238 attacked?** It is attacked over the network, in a web application.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-102238?** Check whether you run Microsoft Visual Studio Code. Junglewise does that check for you around the clock: connect your code, cloud and domains, and it matches new vulnerabilities like this one against what you actually run and tells you when one reaches you.

## Technical details

A path traversal vulnerability in Visual Studio Code permits an attacker to access files outside intended directory restrictions through specially crafted pathname input. The vulnerability can be exploited over the network to achieve remote code execution; no user interaction or prior authentication is required. A patch has been released by Microsoft.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Visual Studio Code

## Timeline

- 2026-10-13: disclosed

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-102238](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-102238)

## Related threats

- [Microsoft Visual Studio Code untrusted search path remote code execution](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-70094-untrusted-search-path-in-visual-studio-code-allows-an)
- [Visual Studio Code trust boundary violation](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121665-trust-boundary-violation-in-visual-studio-code-allows-an)
- [Microsoft Visual Studio Code cross-site scripting](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121664-improper-neutralization-of-input-during-web-page-generation)
- [Microsoft Visual Studio Code incomplete input validation security bypass](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121663-incomplete-list-of-disallowed-inputs-in-visual-studio-code)
- [Visual Studio Code command injection vulnerability](https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-121662-improper-neutralization-of-special-elements-used-in-a-command)