# CVE-2024-7738: yzane vscode-markdown-pdf Markdown File pathname traversal

> A local attacker can exploit a path traversal vulnerability in the vscode-markdown-pdf extension to read arbitrary files from the system.

- **Severity:** Medium 4.8 (`CVSS:4.0/AV:L/AC:L/AT:N/PR:L/UI:N/VC:L/VI:N/VA:N/SC:N/SI:N/SA:N`)
- **Exploited in the wild:** Not known
- **Login needed:** Any signed-in user
- **Attackable:** Local or same network only
- **Victim action needed:** Not needed
- **Fix available:** No
- **Published:** 13 Aug 2024
- **Updated:** 13 Aug 2024
- **Also known as:** GHSA-4r4v-2j2q-ch33

## What is CVE-2024-7738?

CVE-2024-7738 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in yzane vscode-markdown-pdf, published on 13 Aug 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.

### Official description

A vulnerability, which was classified as problematic, has been found in yzane vscode-markdown-pdf 1.5.0. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component Markdown File Handler. The manipulation leads to pathname traversal. Attacking locally is a requirement. The exploit has been disclosed to the public and may be used.

Weakness: CWE-22 (Improper Limitation of a Pathname to a Restricted Directory), CWE-21

## Which versions are affected by CVE-2024-7738?

It affects 1 product.


Products: Yzane Markdown Pdf.

## How do I fix CVE-2024-7738?

No fix has been published for CVE-2024-7738 yet. Limit exposure of the affected software until one is available.

## Is CVE-2024-7738 being exploited?

It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-7738 exists.

## Other vulnerabilities in yzane vscode-markdown-pdf

- [CVE-2024-7739](https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-7739/): yzane vscode-markdown-pdf cross site scripting (medium 6.9)

## Fix prompt for AI coding agents

```text
Check this codebase for CVE-2024-7738 and fix it if it is affected.

What it is: CVE-2024-7738 is a medium-severity path traversal vulnerability in yzane vscode-markdown-pdf, published on 13 Aug 2024. It can only be exploited from the same machine or local network, with no action from the victim.
Exploitation: It is not confirmed as exploited in the wild, but public exploit code for CVE-2024-7738 exists.

Affected product: yzane vscode-markdown-pdf. 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-2024-7738/ (Markdown: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-7738/index.md)
```

## Sources

- CVE record: https://www.cve.org/CVERecord?id=CVE-2024-7738
- NVD: https://nvd.nist.gov/vuln/detail/CVE-2024-7738
- OSV: https://osv.dev/vulnerability/CVE-2024-7738

---
From sbomify Insights: https://insights.sbomify.com/CVE-2024-7738/
Summaries are generated and may contain mistakes; the official description above is the record.