Microsoft Visual Studio Code: Remote Code Execution via improper output encoding
Summary
Microsoft Visual Studio Code contains an output encoding or escaping flaw (CWE-116). According to the CVE record, an unauthorized attacker can execute code over a network. The attack requires user interaction (CVSS UI:R), for example opening attacker-influenced content, and no authentication. Secondary sources describe specially crafted content in the integrated terminal, which is not yet confirmed by Microsoft.
Affected
- Microsoft Visual Studio Code from 1.0.0 before 1.141.1 (per CNA record; verify the exact range on the MSRC advisory)
Fixed in
- Update to Visual Studio Code 1.141.1 or later (secondary source; confirm in the MSRC table)
Workaround
- No workaround documented.
- Until patched: restrict developers from opening untrusted repositories and content, and keep Workspace Trust enabled (own recommendation, not from a vendor source).
Exploitation
- Not known to be exploited.
- CISA SSVC: Exploitation none, Automatable no, Technical Impact total.
- No public proof of concept found.
- EPSS 0.00557.
Our recommendation
- Identify developer and administrator workstations with Visual Studio Code builds below 1.141.1 and update them in the next update cycle (priority high where developers are present).
- Until patched, restrict opening untrusted repositories and content and keep Workspace Trust enabled.
- Monitor the MSRC advisory and NVD for changes to the affected range and KEV status.
Information from Microsoft (Patch Tuesday October 2026)
Public exploits
PoC-in-GitHub, Metasploit and Exploit-DB list nothing for this CVE.
Research sources
- Microsoft Security Response Center: CVE-2026-102235 msrc.microsoft.com
- Tenable Nessus plugin 366207 www.tenable.com
- VulDB entry 417993 vuldb.com
- CyStack vulnerability database: Visual Studio Code cystack.net
- Vulners: MS:CVE-2026-102235 vulners.com
- Windows Forum: CVE-2026-102235 analysis (secondary) windowsforum.com
Researched and written up in English and German by an AI (Claude by Anthropic) based on NVD, CISA, EPSS and the sources listed. The vendor information is authoritative. Researched on 31 Oct 2026, 17:16.
Original description (NVD)
Improper encoding or escaping of output in Visual Studio Code allows an unauthorized attacker to execute code over a network.
NVD references (1)
Sources
The tracker combines official, freely usable data sources – updated continuously:
- NVD (NIST) – CVEs, rating (CVSS), affected products
- CISA KEV – vulnerabilities confirmed by CISA as actively exploited
- CISA Vulnrichment – CISA assessment (SSVC) in the official CVE record
- FIRST EPSS – probability of exploitation
- Microsoft MSRC – Patch Tuesday: vulnerabilities, severity, updates
- PoC-in-GitHub – public proof-of-concept repositories
- Metasploit (Rapid7) – modules of the Metasploit Framework
- Exploit-DB (OffSec) – archive of public exploits (links only)
- Patch days: official vendor pages (linked per vendor) (Vendor patch days)
This product uses data from the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. EPSS data © FIRST.org.
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