Spectra Assure

failRisk: Secrets

Scanned:

GitHub Copilot Chat

Artifact:

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License: unknown

Published:

Publisher: GitHub

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See on Visual Studio Code

SAFE Assessment

Compliance

Licenses

No license compliance issues

Secrets

1 plaintext private keys found

Security

Vulnerabilities

1 medium severity vulnerabilities

Hardening

No application hardening issues

Threats

Tampering

No evidence of software tampering

Malware

No evidence of malware inclusion

INCIDENTS FOR THIS VERSION:

List of software quality issues with the number of affected components.

Policies

Info

Problem

Private keys are used to protect sensitive information, digitally sign content, and to secure information transmission. Private keys are considered secrets, and as such should never be published. Depending on the private key type its exposure can carry a varying degree of risk. While it is common for private keys to be found as standalone files, the detected ones have been found embedded within another software package component. This could indicate an attempt to hide private key presence. Attackers abuse private keys to gain unauthorized server access, decrypt sensitive information, digitally sign content, or impersonate users whose private keys have been leaked.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

3 packages

found in

Top 100

9 packages

found in

Top 1k

12 packages

found in

Top 10k

46 packages

in community

Next steps

Review the reported private keys and remove them from the software package if they were accidentally included.

If the keys were published unintentionally and the software has been made public, you should revoke the keys and file a security incident.

Problem

Software as a Service (SaaS) platforms expose programmable interfaces to their authenticated users. These web services enable action automation and secure exchange of information. To authenticate, web service users provide a unique account identifier and a secret that confirms their access rights. Account access credentials are considered secrets. They should never be included in a software release package, even if they are obfuscated by encryption on the client-side.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

3 packages

found in

Top 100

32 packages

found in

Top 1k

49 packages

found in

Top 10k

257 packages

in community

Next steps

You should securely store web service access credentials, and fully automate their management and periodic rotation.

If credentials were published unintentionally and the software has been made public, you should revoke exposed credentials and file a security incident.

Examples of service credentials that may have been detected include AWS, Square, Zoho, Duo, PayPal and others.

Problem

Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are structured addresses that point to locations and assets on the internet. URLs allow software developers to build complex applications that exchange data with servers that can be hosted in multiple geographical regions. URLs can commonly be found embedded in documentation, configuration files, source code and compiled binaries. One or more embedded URLs were discovered to link to raw files hosted on GitHub. Attackers often abuse popular web services to host malicious payloads. Since code-sharing service URLs are typically allowed by security solutions, using them for payload delivery increases the odds that the malicious code will reach the user. While the presence of code-sharing service locations does not imply malicious intent, all of their uses in a software package should be documented and approved. An increasing number of software supply chain attacks in the open source space leverage the GitHub service to deliver malicious payloads.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

79 packages

found in

Top 100

622 packages

found in

Top 1k

4233 packages

found in

Top 10k

29.36k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software should not include these network references, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider an alternative delivery mechanism for software packages.

Problem

Applications communicate with web services by exchanging HTTP requests. During software development, externally hosted services are used by developers to debug software quality issues relating to exchanging HTTP requests. Attackers commonly abuse tools designed for HTTP request inspection to monitor network traffic and extract sensitive information from the HTTP traffic. While the presence of domains related to HTTP inspection does not imply malicious intent, all of their uses in a software package should be documented and approved. Attackers might have purposely injected security testing tools in the software package to monitor the network traffic of the infected computer system. It is also possible that the software package has mistakenly included a part of its testing infrastructure during packaging.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

32 packages

found in

Top 100

236 packages

found in

Top 1k

1220 packages

found in

Top 10k

7.61k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software should not include these network references, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider removing all references to flagged network locations.

Problem

Software composition analysis has identified a component with one or more known vulnerabilities. Based on the CVSS scoring, these vulnerabilities have been marked as medium severity.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

64 packages

found in

Top 100

530 packages

found in

Top 1k

2998 packages

found in

Top 10k

16.52k packages

in community

Next steps

Perform impact analysis for the reported CVEs.

Update the component to the latest version.

If the update can't resolve the issue, create a plan to isolate or replace the affected component.

Problem

Various network communication protocols allow including plaintext authentication credentials. Information such as user names and passwords could be passed through a non-encrypted channel, and therefore intercepted by malicious actors. Credentials are considered secrets, and should be kept encrypted until they are used. This policy control matches the following URI pattern protocol://username:password@domain within any software package component.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

14 packages

found in

Top 100

112 packages

found in

Top 1k

273 packages

found in

Top 10k

1.71k packages

in community

Next steps

Review the reported matches. If the warning refers to a placeholder credential value, it can be safely ignored.

Problem

Software components contain executable code that performs actions implemented during its development. These actions are called behaviors. In the analysis report, behaviors are presented as human-readable descriptions that best match the underlying code intent. While most behaviors are benign, some are commonly abused by malicious software with the intent to cause harm. When a software package shares behavior traits with malicious software, it may become flagged by security solutions. Any detection from security solutions can cause friction for the end-users during software deployment. While the behavior is likely intended by the developer, there is a small chance this detection is true positive, and an early indication of a software supply chain attack.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

60 packages

found in

Top 100

434 packages

found in

Top 1k

2301 packages

found in

Top 10k

13.88k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software intent does not relate to the reported behavior, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider rewriting the flagged code without using the marked behaviors.

Problem

Software components contain executable code that performs actions implemented during its development. These actions are called behaviors. In the analysis report, behaviors are presented as human-readable descriptions that best match the underlying code intent. While most behaviors are benign on their own, some might become important for analysis when observed alongside other capabilities the component exhibits. This issue is reported for files that can enumerate user information and make HTTP requests. While presence of this behavior combination does not imply malicious intent, it is advised that the reported files are reviewed. One example of acceptable use for this type of data collection is the opt-in telemetry for software debugging purposes.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

28 packages

found in

Top 100

137 packages

found in

Top 1k

348 packages

found in

Top 10k

1.67k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections as indicators of software tampering.

Consult Mitre ATT&CK documentation: T1033 - System Owner/User Discovery.

Consider limiting the collection of user information to a minimum.

Problem

Software developers use programming and design knowledge to build reusable software components. Software components are the basic building blocks for modern applications. Software consumed by an enterprise consists of hundreds, and sometimes even thousands of open source components. Open source communities depend on the work of thousands of software developers that volunteer their time to maintain software components. Software developers build up the reputation of their open source projects by developing in public. Modern source code repositories have many social features that allow software developers to handle bug reports, have discussions with their users, and convey reaching significant project milestones. It is uncommon to find open source projects that omit linking their component to a publicly accessible source code repository.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

53 packages

found in

Top 100

442 packages

found in

Top 1k

3405 packages

found in

Top 10k

57.88k packages

in community

Next steps

Check the software component behaviors for anomalies.

Consider exploratory software component testing within a sandbox environment.

Consider replacing the software component with a more widely used alternative.

Avoid using this software package until it is vetted as safe.

Problem

Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are structured addresses that point to locations and assets on the internet. URLs allow software developers to build complex applications that exchange data with servers that can be hosted in multiple geographical regions. URLs can commonly be found embedded in documentation, configuration files, source code and compiled binaries. A port number is associated with a network address of a host, such as an IP address, and the type of network protocol used for communication. Within URLs, the ports are optional. Ports can be specified in a URL immediately following the domain name. Each network protocol, or schema, has a set of standard ports on which the service operates. This issue is raised when a mismatch between a network protocol and its expected port number is detected. While the presence of non-standard ports does not imply malicious intent, all of their uses in a software package should be documented and approved.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

79 packages

found in

Top 100

560 packages

found in

Top 1k

2912 packages

found in

Top 10k

17.75k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software should not include these network references, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider changing the port to one that is standard for the networking protocol.

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List of software quality issues with the number of affected components.

Policies

Info

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

3 packages

found in

Top 100

9 packages

found in

Top 1k

12 packages

found in

Top 10k

46 packages

in community

Next steps

Review the reported private keys and remove them from the software package if they were accidentally included.

If the keys were published unintentionally and the software has been made public, you should revoke the keys and file a security incident.

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

3 packages

found in

Top 100

32 packages

found in

Top 1k

49 packages

found in

Top 10k

257 packages

in community

Next steps

You should securely store web service access credentials, and fully automate their management and periodic rotation.

If credentials were published unintentionally and the software has been made public, you should revoke exposed credentials and file a security incident.

Examples of service credentials that may have been detected include AWS, Square, Zoho, Duo, PayPal and others.

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

79 packages

found in

Top 100

622 packages

found in

Top 1k

4233 packages

found in

Top 10k

29.36k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software should not include these network references, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider an alternative delivery mechanism for software packages.

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

32 packages

found in

Top 100

236 packages

found in

Top 1k

1220 packages

found in

Top 10k

7.61k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software should not include these network references, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider removing all references to flagged network locations.

Problem

Software composition analysis has identified a component with one or more known vulnerabilities. Based on the CVSS scoring, these vulnerabilities have been marked as medium severity.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

64 packages

found in

Top 100

530 packages

found in

Top 1k

2998 packages

found in

Top 10k

16.52k packages

in community

Next steps

Perform impact analysis for the reported CVEs.

Update the component to the latest version.

If the update can't resolve the issue, create a plan to isolate or replace the affected component.

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

14 packages

found in

Top 100

112 packages

found in

Top 1k

273 packages

found in

Top 10k

1.71k packages

in community

Next steps

Review the reported matches. If the warning refers to a placeholder credential value, it can be safely ignored.

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

60 packages

found in

Top 100

434 packages

found in

Top 1k

2301 packages

found in

Top 10k

13.88k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software intent does not relate to the reported behavior, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider rewriting the flagged code without using the marked behaviors.

Problem

Software components contain executable code that performs actions implemented during its development. These actions are called behaviors. In the analysis report, behaviors are presented as human-readable descriptions that best match the underlying code intent. While most behaviors are benign on their own, some might become important for analysis when observed alongside other capabilities the component exhibits. This issue is reported for files that can enumerate user information and make HTTP requests. While presence of this behavior combination does not imply malicious intent, it is advised that the reported files are reviewed. One example of acceptable use for this type of data collection is the opt-in telemetry for software debugging purposes.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

28 packages

found in

Top 100

137 packages

found in

Top 1k

348 packages

found in

Top 10k

1.67k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections as indicators of software tampering.

Consult Mitre ATT&CK documentation: T1033 - System Owner/User Discovery.

Consider limiting the collection of user information to a minimum.

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

53 packages

found in

Top 100

442 packages

found in

Top 1k

3405 packages

found in

Top 10k

57.88k packages

in community

Next steps

Check the software component behaviors for anomalies.

Consider exploratory software component testing within a sandbox environment.

Consider replacing the software component with a more widely used alternative.

Avoid using this software package until it is vetted as safe.

Problem

Uniform Resource Locators (URLs) are structured addresses that point to locations and assets on the internet. URLs allow software developers to build complex applications that exchange data with servers that can be hosted in multiple geographical regions. URLs can commonly be found embedded in documentation, configuration files, source code and compiled binaries. A port number is associated with a network address of a host, such as an IP address, and the type of network protocol used for communication. Within URLs, the ports are optional. Ports can be specified in a URL immediately following the domain name. Each network protocol, or schema, has a set of standard ports on which the service operates. This issue is raised when a mismatch between a network protocol and its expected port number is detected. While the presence of non-standard ports does not imply malicious intent, all of their uses in a software package should be documented and approved.

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

79 packages

found in

Top 100

560 packages

found in

Top 1k

2912 packages

found in

Top 10k

17.75k packages

in community

Next steps

Investigate reported detections.

If the software should not include these network references, investigate your build and release environment for software supply chain compromise.

You should delay the software release until the investigation is completed, or until the issue is risk accepted.

Consider changing the port to one that is standard for the networking protocol.

GitHub Copilot Chat

SAFE Assessment

Compliance

Security

Threats

IMPORTANT: This package had 2 removal incidents in versions published within 2 years prior to the latestLatest version with removal incident detected: 11 months agoVersion: 0.29.2025062507

INCIDENTS FOR THIS VERSION:

SQ34109Detected presence of hardcoded private keys.Causes risk: plaintext private keys foundsecrets

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

SQ34303Detected presence of web service access credentials.Causes risk: web service credentials foundsecrets

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH17127Detected presence of files containing URLs that link to raw files on GitHub.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH17131Detected presence of files containing domains used for intercepting and inspecting HTTP requests.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

SQ31106Detected presence of medium severity vulnerabilities.Causes risk: medium severity vulnerabilitiesvulnerabilities

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

SQ34302Detected presence of plaintext credentials within network protocol strings.Causes risk: web service credentials foundsecrets

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH15103Detected presence of files with behaviors commonly used by malicious software.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH16106Detected presence of files that collect and exfiltrate user information.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH30112Detected presence of software components without a declared source code repository.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH17115Detected presence of files containing URLs that use non-standard ports.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

Did you know...

SQ34109Detected presence of hardcoded private keys.Causes risk: plaintext private keys foundsecrets

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

SQ34303Detected presence of web service access credentials.Causes risk: web service credentials foundsecrets

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH17127Detected presence of files containing URLs that link to raw files on GitHub.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH17131Detected presence of files containing domains used for intercepting and inspecting HTTP requests.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

SQ31106Detected presence of medium severity vulnerabilities.Causes risk: medium severity vulnerabilitiesvulnerabilities

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

SQ34302Detected presence of plaintext credentials within network protocol strings.Causes risk: web service credentials foundsecrets

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH15103Detected presence of files with behaviors commonly used by malicious software.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps

TH16106Detected presence of files that collect and exfiltrate user information.hunting

Problem

Prevalence in Visual Studio Code community

Next steps