Malicious VSCode extensions infect Windows with cryptominers

A set of ten VSCode extensions on Microsoft's Visual Studio Code Marketplace pose as legitimate development tools while infecting users with the XMRig cryptominer for Monero. Microsoft VSCode is a popular code editor that allows users to install extensions to extend the program's functionality. These extensions can be downloaded from Microsoft's VSCode Marketplace, an online hub for developers to find and install add-ons. ExtensionTotal researcher Yuval Ronen has uncovered ten VSCode extensions published on Microsoft's portal on April 4, 2025. The package names are: At the time of publishing this article, the marketplace shows that the extensions amassed over 300,000 installs since April 4. However, after publishing the article Yuval Ronen added another extension with close to 500,000 installations. These numbers are likely artificially inflated to give the extensions a sense of legitimacy and popularity to entice others to install them. ExtensionTotal says it reported the malicious extensions to Microsoft, but they are still available at the time of writing. When installed and activated, the malicious extensions fetch a PowerShell script from an external source at 'https://asdf11[.]xyz/' and execute it. When finished, it also installs the legitimate extension it is impersonating, so the infected user does not become suspicious. The malicious PowerShell script performs multiple functions, like disabling defenses, establishing persistence, escalating privileges, and eventuall...