Microsoft Visual Studio Code JSON Remote Code Execution

Summaryinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Visual Studio Code and classified as critical. This affects an unknown part of the component JSON Handler. Such manipulation leads to Remote Code Execution. This vulnerability is traded as CVE-2020-17023. The attack may be launched remotely. There is no exploit available. Applying a patch is advised to resolve this issue.

Detailsinfo

A vulnerability was found in Microsoft Visual Studio Code (Programming Tool Software) (the affected version is unknown) and classified as critical. Affected by this issue is an unknown code of the component JSON Handler. The manipulation with an unknown input leads to a remote code execution vulnerability. 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 10/15/2020 as confirmed security guidance (Website). The advisory is shared for download at portal.msrc.microsoft.com. This vulnerability is handled as CVE-2020-17023. The exploitation is known to be easy. 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.

It is declared as proof-of-concept.

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

VulDB is the best source for vulnerability data and more expert information about this specific topic.

Productinfo

Type

• Programming Tool Software

Vendor

• Microsoft

Name

• Visual Studio Code

License

• commercial

Website

• Vendor: https://www.microsoft.com/

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