Microsoft Visual Studio Code JSON input validation

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Visual Studio Code. It has been declared as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown functionality of the component JSON Handler. Such manipulation leads to input validation. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2020-16881. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. It is advisable to implement a patch to correct this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Visual Studio Code (Programming Tool Software) (version now known). It has been rated as critical. Affected by this issue is some unknown processing of the component JSON Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a input validation vulnerability. Using CWE to declare the problem leads to CWE-20. The product receives input or data, but it does not validate or incorrectly validates that the input has the properties that are required to process the data safely and correctly. Impacted is confidentiality, integrity, and availability. CVE summarizes:

<p>A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when a user is tricked into opening a malicious 'package.json' file. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights.</p> <p>To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to convince a target to clone a repository and open it in Visual Studio Code. Attacker-specified code would execute when the target opens the malicious 'package.json' file.</p> <p>The update address the vulnerability by modifying the way Visual Studio Code handles JSON files.</p>

The weakness was shared 09/08/2020 as confirmed security update guide (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. The vendor cooperated in the coordination of the public release. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2020-16881. The attack may be launched remotely. No form of authentication is required for exploitation. Successful exploitation requires user interaction by the victim. There are neither technical details nor an exploit publicly available. The advisory points out:

A remote code execution vulnerability exists in Visual Studio Code when a user is tricked into opening a malicious 'package.json' file. An attacker who successfully exploited the vulnerability could run arbitrary code in the context of the current user. If the current user is logged on with administrative user rights, an attacker could take control of the affected system. An attacker could then install programs; view, change, or delete data; or create new accounts with full user rights. To exploit this vulnerability, an attacker would need to convince a target to clone a repository and open it in Visual Studio Code. Attacker-specified code would execute when the target opens the malicious 'package.json' file. The update address the vulnerability by modifying the way Visual Studio Code handles JSON files.

Applying a patch is able to eliminate this problem. A possible mitigation has been published immediately after the disclosure of the vulnerability.

Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Tool Software

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Visual Studio Code

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/

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Once again VulDB remains the best source for vulnerability data.

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