The 22-year-old actress split with heartthrob Zac Efron in December, and is said to have stepped out with Josh at the after-party for the premier of her current movie, Beastly.
An onlooker told People, 'Their arms were wrapped around each other and they were really touchy together. They were very cute.'
Two days later Josh, 18, took Hudgens as his date to the Independent Spirit Awards, where his film The Kids Are All Right won for best screenplay.
'Josh walked Vanessa to the bathroom and then guided her to their seats with a hand on the small of her back,' an insider said.
Reps for Hudgens and Hutcherson could not be reached for comment.