CVE-2026-78461: Visual Studio Code Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability
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.
Details
Original advisory: https://msrc.microsoft.com/update-guide/vulnerability/CVE-2026-78461
Exploitation outlook
EPSS (FIRST.org) estimates each CVE’s probability of exploitation in the next 30 days — here is the CSIRTS.com read on those numbers.
- Moderate exploitation riskCVE-2026-784611.1% 30-day exploitation probability. Patch within normal cadence, watch for KEV listing. Riskier than 62% of all EPSS-scored CVEs.
Referenced CVEs
| CVE | CSIRTS overview | External |
|---|---|---|
| CVE-2026-78461 | coverage & exploitation status | NVD · CVE.org |
Same CVEs, other sources
How other CERTs, PSIRTs and databases cover the vulnerabilities in this advisory.
- high[UPDATE] [hoch] Microsoft Entwicklerwerkzeuge: Mehrere Schwachstellen ermöglichen Privilegieneskalationcert-bund
- unknownNCSC-2026-0351 [1.00] [M/H] Kwetsbaarheden verholpen in Microsoft Developer Toolsncsc-nl
- highCVE-2026-78461: Improper limitation of a pathname to a restricted directory ('path traversal') in Visual Studi…nvd
Recent advisories for Visual Studio Code
A cluster of recent advisories against the same product widens the attack surface — attackers routinely chain freshly published CVEs on one product, so review these together.
- highGHSA-2j8r-3c22-8565: Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-69522 – .NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution…ghsa · 2026-09-09
- highGHSA-63gh-g2x5-x69v: Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-71328 – .NET and Visual Studio Remote Code Execution…ghsa · 2026-09-09
- highGHSA-4qhr-qf46-fcrx: Duplicate Advisory: Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-71328 – .NET and Visual Studio R…ghsa · 2026-09-08
- highGHSA-q72m-f2r4-w4cw: Duplicate Advisory: Microsoft Security Advisory CVE-2026-69522 – .NET and Visual Studio R…ghsa · 2026-09-08
- highCVE-2026-81383: Use of incorrectly-resolved name or reference in Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized att…nvd · 2026-09-08
- mediumCVE-2026-81381: Insufficiently protected credentials in GitHub Copilot and Visual Studio Code allows an unauth…nvd · 2026-09-08
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