Security Update for Microsoft Visual Studio Code (CVE-2020-16881)

high Nessus Plugin ID 140432

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Synopsis

The remote host has an application installed that is missing a security update.

Description

The version of Microsoft Visual Studio Code installed on the remote Windows host is prior to 1.48.2. It is, therefore, affected by the following vulnerability:

- 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.

Solution

Upgrade to Microsoft Visual Studio Code 1.48.2 or later.

Plugin Details

Severity: High

ID: 140432

File Name: smb_nt_ms20_sep_visual_studio_code.nasl

Version: 1.7

Type: local

Agent: windows

Family: Windows

Published: 9/8/2020

Updated: 12/6/2022

Configuration: Enable thorough checks

Supported Sensors: Frictionless Assessment Agent, Nessus Agent, Nessus

Risk Information

VPR

Risk Factor: Medium

Score: 5.9

CVSS v2

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 9.3

Temporal Score: 6.9

Vector: CVSS2#AV:N/AC:M/Au:N/C:C/I:C/A:C

CVSS Score Source: CVE-2020-16881

CVSS v3

Risk Factor: High

Base Score: 7.8

Temporal Score: 6.8

Vector: CVSS:3.0/AV:L/AC:L/PR:N/UI:R/S:U/C:H/I:H/A:H

Temporal Vector: CVSS:3.0/E:U/RL:O/RC:C

Vulnerability Information

CPE: cpe:/a:microsoft:visual_studio_code

Required KB Items: installed_sw/Microsoft Visual Studio Code, SMB/Registry/Enumerated

Exploit Ease: No known exploits are available

Patch Publication Date: 9/8/2020

Vulnerability Publication Date: 9/8/2020

Reference Information

CVE: CVE-2020-16881

IAVA: 2020-A-0411-S

Detections

Analytics