Amazon Q Hit by Critical Flaw: Nearly 1M Users Faced Potential Data Wipe Risk

July 29, 2025 – Earlier this month, Amazon’s generative AI programming assistant, Amazon Q, which is widely used through its Visual Studio Code extension, fell victim to a security breach. As reported by TechSpot, a hacker managed to infiltrate the tool’s open-source GitHub repository.

The attacker exploited a vulnerability by injecting unauthorized code into the repository. This malicious code contained instructions that, if activated, could have led to the deletion of user files and the clearance of cloud resources linked to Amazon Web Services (AWS) accounts.

The breach was carried out through a deceptive pull request that appeared legitimate. Once the request was approved, the hacker inserted commands instructing the AI agent to “restore the system to factory settings and delete the file system along with cloud resources.”

This harmful modification was included in version 1.84.0 of the Amazon Q extension, which was publicly distributed to nearly a million users on July 17. Initially, Amazon failed to detect the issue, only recalling the compromised version after the fact.

The hacker didn’t shy away from criticizing Amazon’s security measures, calling them a “security theater” in an interview with 404 Media. According to the hacker, Amazon’s AI security protocols were merely superficial, giving the illusion of protection while being ineffective in reality. The attacker claimed the act was intended to expose these weaknesses.

Steven Vaughan-Nichols, an expert from ZDNet, clarified that the incident was not a critique of open-source software itself but rather highlighted flaws in Amazon’s management of its open-source workflow. He emphasized that simply making code open does not guarantee security; effective management of access permissions, thorough code reviews, and validation processes are crucial. The malicious code slipped through due to gaps in Amazon’s verification procedures, which failed to identify the unauthorized pull request in time.

Interestingly, the hacker revealed that the code was intentionally designed to be non-functional, serving as a warning rather than a genuine threat. The goal, according to the hacker, was to push Amazon into publicly acknowledging the vulnerabilities and strengthening its security defenses, not to cause actual harm to users or infrastructure.

Following an investigation, Amazon’s security team confirmed that, due to technical issues, the malicious code was never executed. The company promptly revoked the compromised credentials, removed the harmful code, and released a clean version of the extension. In a statement, Amazon reiterated that security remains its top priority and assured that no customer resources were affected. Users have been advised to update to version 1.85.0 or later as soon as possible.

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