CVE-2025-64660 is an improper access control vulnerability classified under CWE-284, affecting Microsoft Visual Studio Code version 1.0.0 and GitHub Copilot. This vulnerability allows an attacker who is already authorized with limited privileges to execute arbitrary code remotely over a network. The flaw stems from inadequate enforcement of access control policies within the software, enabling privilege escalation or unauthorized code execution. The CVSS 3.1 score of 8.0 indicates a high-severity issue with network attack vector (AV:N), low attack complexity (AC:L), requiring privileges (PR:L) and user interaction (UI:R). The vulnerability impacts confidentiality, integrity, and availability (all rated high), meaning an attacker can potentially access sensitive data, alter code or system state, and disrupt services. Although no known exploits are currently reported in the wild, the presence of this vulnerability in a widely used development environment poses a significant risk. The vulnerability's exploitation could allow attackers to compromise developer machines or continuous integration environments, potentially leading to supply chain attacks or unauthorized code modifications. The lack of available patches at the time of publication necessitates immediate risk mitigation through compensating controls.

For European organizations, this vulnerability poses a substantial risk, particularly for software development firms, IT departments, and enterprises relying on Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot for coding and automation. Exploitation could lead to unauthorized code execution, exposing intellectual property, source code, and sensitive configuration data. This may result in data breaches, insertion of malicious code into software builds, or disruption of development pipelines. Given the interconnected nature of development environments, a successful attack could propagate through supply chains, affecting downstream customers and partners. The impact on confidentiality, integrity, and availability is critical, potentially causing financial losses, reputational damage, and regulatory compliance issues under GDPR. Organizations with remote or hybrid workforces using Visual Studio Code over networks are particularly vulnerable. The absence of known exploits provides a window for proactive defense but also underscores the urgency of mitigation before attackers develop weaponized exploits.

1. Immediately restrict network access to Visual Studio Code and GitHub Copilot instances, limiting them to trusted internal networks and VPNs. 2. Enforce strict access control policies and least privilege principles for users operating Visual Studio Code, ensuring only necessary privileges are granted. 3. Monitor network traffic and system logs for unusual activity related to Visual Studio Code processes, including unexpected code execution or connections. 4. Implement application whitelisting to prevent unauthorized code from executing within development environments. 5. Isolate build and development environments using containerization or virtual machines to limit the blast radius of potential exploitation. 6. Educate developers and IT staff about the vulnerability and the importance of cautious user interaction, as exploitation requires user involvement. 7. Prepare for rapid deployment of official patches from Microsoft once released, including testing and validation procedures. 8. Review and harden continuous integration/continuous deployment (CI/CD) pipelines to detect and prevent injection of malicious code. 9. Employ endpoint detection and response (EDR) solutions to identify and respond to suspicious behaviors linked to this vulnerability. 10. Regularly update and audit all development tools and dependencies to minimize exposure to similar vulnerabilities.