A remote code execution vulnerability exists in the ESLint extension for Visual Studio Code when it validates source code after opening a project. 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 opened source code in the editor.
The update addresses the vulnerability by modifying the way ESLint extension for Visual Studio Code handles environment variables.