# CVE-2026-102851: Microsoft Visual Studio Code privilege assignment bypass

Source: https://junglewise.ai/threats/cve-2026-102851-incorrect-privilege-assignment-in-visual-studio-code-allows-an  
Publisher: Junglewise Threat Intelligence, https://junglewise.ai/threats  
Published: 2026-10-13. Updated: 2026-10-16  
License: CC BY 4.0 with a link back

CVE-2026-102851 · Severity: medium · CVSS 6.1 · Published 2026-10-13

Visual Studio Code, a widely-used code editor, contains a privilege assignment vulnerability that allows an authorized user to bypass a local security feature. An attacker with existing access to the system could escalate capabilities or circumvent protections intended to restrict their actions within the application.

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-2026-102851 exploited in the wild?** No. Junglewise Threat Intelligence has no report of CVE-2026-102851 being exploited in the wild.

**How severe is CVE-2026-102851?** Medium severity, with a CVSS score of 6.1, published 13 October 2026.

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

**Is there a fix for CVE-2026-102851?** 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-2026-102851 attacked?** It is attacked with local access.

**Am I affected by CVE-2026-102851?** 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

The vulnerability stems from incorrect privilege assignment logic in Visual Studio Code, allowing an authorized local attacker to bypass a security feature. The attack requires prior authentication or system access and operates via local attack vector. Successful exploitation permits circumvention of security controls without necessarily gaining full system compromise.

## Affected products

- Microsoft Visual Studio Code

## References

- [https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-102851](https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-102851)

## Related threats

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- [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)