Tools: CVE-2025-8217: Amazon Q's Self-Sabotage: The Backdoor That Couldn't Code

Amazon Q's Self-Sabotage: The Backdoor That Couldn't Code ## Technical Details ## Affected Systems ## Code Analysis ## Commit: unknown ## Exploit Details ## Mitigation Strategies ## References Vulnerability ID: CVE-2025-8217 CVSS Score: 5.1 Published: 2025-07-30 A deep dive into the supply chain compromise of the Amazon Q Developer VS Code extension, where malicious code was injected into the build pipeline but failed to execute due to a syntax error. The build process for Amazon Q Developer extension v1.84.0 was hijacked to download and inject malicious code. The attacker, however, pushed a payload with a syntax error, rendering the backdoor inert. It's a textbook supply chain attack with a comical ending. The specific malicious commit was part of a build artifact injection and may not be visible in the public git history as a standard commit, but rather as a modification during the packaging process. Read the full report for CVE-2025-8217 on our website for more details including interactive diagrams and full exploit analysis. Templates let you quickly answer FAQs or store snippets for re-use. Are you sure you want to hide this comment? It will become hidden in your post, but will still be visible via the comment's permalink. Hide child comments as well For further actions, you may consider blocking this person and/or reporting abuse CODE_BLOCK: - async function preparePackager() { ... downloadFiles(...) ... } + // Function removed in 1.85.0 Enter fullscreen mode Exit fullscreen mode CODE_BLOCK: - async function preparePackager() { ... downloadFiles(...) ... } + // Function removed in 1.85.0 CODE_BLOCK: - async function preparePackager() { ... downloadFiles(...) ... } + // Function removed in 1.85.0 - CWE ID: CWE-506 - Attack Vector: Local (Supply Chain) - CVSS v4.0: 5.1 (Medium) - Impact: Inert (Failed Execution) - Exploit Status: Failed Attempt - KEV Status: Not Listed - Visual Studio Code - Amazon Q Developer Extension - Amazon Q Developer VS Code Extension: = 1.84.0 (Fixed in: 1.85.0) - Internal: The exploit was contained within the distributed 1.84.0 VSIX file but failed to execute due to syntax errors. - Implement strict integrity checks in build pipelines to prevent dynamic code fetching. - Audit build scripts (package.ts, Makefiles) as rigorously as source code. - Restrict network access during the build phase to prevent unauthorized downloads. - Upgrade Amazon Q Developer VS Code extension to version 1.85.0 or later. - Manually uninstall version 1.84.0 to remove any residual files. - Verify the extension version in VS Code by navigating to the Extensions view. - AWS Security Bulletin AWS-2025-015 - GHSA-7g7f-ff96-5gcw