# CVE-2023-29338: Visual Studio Code Spoofing Vulnerability

> Attackers can spoof content in Visual Studio Code, potentially misleading users about the source or nature of displayed information.

- **Severity:** Medium 6.6 (`CVSS:3.1/AV:L/AC:L/PR:L/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:N/E:P/RL:O/RC:C`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** A user has to click or open something
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 9 May 2023
- **Updated:** 10 Jul 2025

## What is CVE-2023-29338?

CVE-2023-29338 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio Code, published on 9 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.

### Official description

Visual Studio Code Spoofing Vulnerability

Weakness: CWE-285 (Improper Authorization)

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2023-29338?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Microsoft Visual Studio Code.

## How do I fix CVE-2023-29338?

No fix has been published for CVE-2023-29338 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2023-29338 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-29338 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in Microsoft Visual Studio Code

- [CVE-2026-81376](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-81376/): Visual Studio Code Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2026-47281](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-47281/): Visual Studio Code Elevation of Privilege Vulnerability (critical 9.6)
- [CVE-2026-78462](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-78462/): Visual Studio Code Security Feature Bypass Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-59113](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-59113/): Visual Studio Code Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)
- [CVE-2026-69320](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2026-69320/): Visual Studio Code Remote Code Execution Vulnerability (high 8.8)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2023-29338 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2023-29338 is a medium-severity vulnerability in Microsoft Visual Studio Code, published on 9 May 2023. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, and only if a user opens a file or follows a link.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2023-29338 exists.

Affected product: Microsoft Visual Studio Code. No package-level version data is available, so check the vendor advisory linked from the reference page.

Task:
1. Search the dependency manifests and lockfiles (for example package.json, package-lock.json, requirements.txt, poetry.lock, uv.lock, pom.xml, build.gradle, go.mod, Cargo.lock, Gemfile.lock) and any Dockerfiles for the affected packages, including transitive dependencies.
2. If an affected version is in use, upgrade it to the fixed version for its release line with the project's package manager, so the lockfile is regenerated. Prefer the smallest upgrade that fixes it.
3. If there is no fix, or the upgrade would break the build, do not guess: explain the risk and the safest workaround instead.
4. Run the tests and summarise what changed and why.
5. If nothing in the project is affected, say so and change nothing.

Reference: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29338/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29338/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2023-29338
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2023-29338
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2023-29338

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2023-29338/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.