type: attack-pattern
spec_version: 2.1
id: attack-pattern--77e29a47-e263-4f11-8692-e5012f44dbac
created: 2025-03-20T18:46:24.598Z
created_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
revoked: no
external_references: source_name: mitre-attack
url: https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1219/001
external_id: T1219.001
source_name: sentinelone operationDigitalEye Dec 2024
description: Aleksandar Milenkoski, Luigi Martire. (2024, December 10). Operation Digital Eye | Chinese APT Compromises Critical Digital Infrastructure via Visual Studio Code Tunnels. Retrieved February 27, 2025.
url: https://www.sentinelone.com/labs/operation-digital-eye-chinese-apt-compromises-critical-digital-infrastructure-via-visual-studio-code-tunnels/
source_name: Unit42 Chinese VSCode 06 September 2024
description: Tom Fakterman. (2024, September 6). Chinese APT Abuses VSCode to Target Government in Asia. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
url: https://unit42.paloaltonetworks.com/stately-taurus-abuses-vscode-southeast-asian-espionage/
source_name: Thornton tutorial VSCode shell September 2023
description: Truvis Thornton. (2023, September 25). Visual Studio Code: embedded reverse shell and how to block, create Sentinel Detection, and add Environment Prevention. Retrieved March 24, 2025.
url: https://medium.com/@truvis.thornton/visual-studio-code-embedded-reverse-shell-and-how-to-block-create-sentinel-detection-and-add-e864ebafaf6d
object_marking_refs: marking-definition--fa42a846-8d90-4e51-bc29-71d5b4802168
modified: 2025-04-22T16:34:13.454Z
name: IDE Tunneling
description: Adversaries may abuse Integrated Development Environment (IDE) software with remote development features to establish an interactive command and control channel on target systems within a network. IDE tunneling combines SSH, port forwarding, file sharing, and debugging into a single secure connection, letting developers work on remote systems as if they were local. Unlike SSH and port forwarding, IDE tunneling encapsulates an entire session and may use proprietary tunneling protocols alongside SSH, allowing adversaries to blend in with legitimate development workflows. Some IDEs, like Visual Studio Code, also provide CLI tools (e.g., `code tunnel`) that adversaries may use to programmatically establish tunnels and generate web-accessible URLs for remote access. These tunnels can be authenticated through accounts such as GitHub, enabling the adversary to control the compromised system via a legitimate developer portal.(Citation: sentinelone operationDigitalEye Dec 2024)(Citation: Unit42 Chinese VSCode 06 September 2024)(Citation: Thornton tutorial VSCode shell September 2023)

Additionally, adversaries may use IDE tunneling for persistence. Some IDEs, such as Visual Studio Code and JetBrains, support automatic reconnection. Adversaries may configure the IDE to auto-launch at startup, re-establishing the tunnel upon execution. Compromised developer machines may also be exploited as jump hosts to move further into the network.

IDE tunneling tools may be built-in or installed as [IDE Extensions](https://attack.mitre.org/techniques/T1176/002).
kill_chain_phases: kill_chain_name: mitre-attack
phase_name: command-and-control
x_mitre_attack_spec_version: 3.2.0
x_mitre_contributors: Purinut Wongwaiwuttiguldej
x_mitre_deprecated: no
x_mitre_domains: enterprise-attack
x_mitre_is_subtechnique: yes
x_mitre_modified_by_ref: identity--c78cb6e5-0c4b-4611-8297-d1b8b55e40b5
x_mitre_platforms: Linux
macOS
Windows
x_mitre_version: 1.0