VSCode Python Extension Code Execution

This repository contains the Proof-of-Concept of a code execution vulnerability discovered in the Visual Studio Code Python extension.

TL;DR: VScode may use code from a virtualenv found in the project folders without asking the user, for things such as formatting, autocompletion, etc. This insecure design leads to arbitrary code execution by simply cloning and opening a malicious Python repository.

You can read more about this vulnerability on our blog: https://blog.doyensec.com/2020/03/16/vscode_codeexec.html.

HowTo

• Clone the 'malicious' repository with git clone https://github.com/doyensec/VSCode_PoC_Oct2019.git
• Add the cloned repo to a VSCode workspace on macOS. Note that the vulnerability affects all platforms, but the PoC is executing Calculator.app
• Open test.py in VScode