Anthropic VS code extension on Cursor backdoored for nearly 12 hours
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What's this about?
It's still unknown how attackers got access to Anthropic's verified Cursor account.
The one-panel cartoon
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A cluttered programmer's desk with a laptop screen showing a code editor extension named 'Cursor,' surrounded by hardware debugging tools and open-source books.
Caption: Debugging the backdoor: just another day at the desk.
Read the full 3-panel strip
Based on the original story on arstechnica.com.
Editor's note
This incident highlights the critical importance of security in software development tools, especially when those tools are used by companies handling sensitive data. It's a stark reminder that even verified accounts can be compromised, underscoring the need for robust security practices and transparency in how tech companies handle such breaches.
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Read the script
Panel 1
Anthropic is a company known for developing AI research and ethical AI systems. Cursor is a code extension that helps developers streamline their workflow by providing AI-powered suggestions and code completions. The irony lies in the fact that a company dedicated to ethical AI and security has been compromised by attackers, highlighting the irony that even those who are experts in security can fall victim to breaches. The highlight is the absurdity of a company known for AI security having their code extension backdoored, leading to the punchline that the AI security company is now in need of security itself.
Panel 2
*Setting: A small, cluttered office with a desk piled with codebooks, a computer screen showing code, and a poster of ethical AI principles on the wall. A nervous-looking developer, JIM, is hunched over his keyboard, looking bewildered.* Jim (to himself) Jim (muttering)
Jim: How did we get hacked? We’re the ones who write the code to prevent hacks!
Panel 3
*Setting: A conference room with a long table, a projector screen showing the compromised Cursor extension, and a few other developers looking worried. Jim stands in the middle, holding a piece of paper with code snippets scribbled on it.*
Jim: I triple-checked our security protocols. How did they find a way in?
Developer 1: Maybe we’re the ones who need to secure our security!
Panel 4
*Setting: The same cluttered office as Panel 1, but now Jim is sitting behind his desk, staring at his computer screen with a blank look, holding a cup of coffee and a security manual.* Jim (to himself) Jim (smiling bitterly)
Jim: Guess it’s time to double-check the checks. Security of the security makers, huh?
Jim: Who knew protecting AI would be so... meta?
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