Vibe Coding and Why You Need EDR: The Hidden Security Risk

You're using Cursor, GitHub Copilot, or another AI coding assistant. You describe what you want, the AI generates code, and you hit "run all" or execute it. It's incredibly productive. You're coding faster than ever. But there's a security problem hiding in plain sight that traditional antivirus won't catch.

AI-assisted coding, what some call "vibe coding", is changing how developers work. But it's also creating new attack vectors that traditional security tools miss. Here's why you need EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) to protect against threats that slip past Windows Defender and other signature-based defenses.

What Is Vibe Coding?

"Vibe coding" refers to the workflow where developers use AI assistants to generate code based on natural language descriptions. Instead of writing code line by line, you describe what you want, the AI generates it, and you execute it, often without fully reviewing every line.

Tools like Cursor, GitHub Copilot, Amazon CodeWhisperer, and others make this incredibly easy. You can describe a complex function, get code instantly, and run it with a single click or command. The productivity gains are real, but so are the security risks.

The "Run All" Problem

Here's the scenario: You're working on a project, and the AI generates a script to help you. You see it does what you asked for, so you execute it. Maybe you review the code quickly, maybe you don't. The AI-generated code runs with your permissions, on your system, with access to your files, network, and credentials.

The problem isn't that AI assistants are malicious. They're not. The problem is:

• Code can be obfuscated or contain hidden functionality that's not immediately obvious
• AI models can reproduce dangerous code patterns from their training data
• Complex code is harder to review, especially when it's generated quickly
• Dependencies and imports can introduce risks that aren't visible in the main code
• PowerShell and other scripting languages can execute malicious actions that look legitimate

When you hit "run all" on AI-generated code, you're trusting that the code is safe. But traditional antivirus won't catch sophisticated threats, especially when they use legitimate Windows features.

Windows Defender: Easy to Disable, Not a Vulnerability

This is where it gets interesting. Disabling Windows Defender is incredibly easy with PowerShell, and it's not detected as a vulnerability because it's a feature. Here's why that matters:

# Disable Windows Defender Real-Time Protection (requires admin)
Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true

# Or disable it completely
Set-MpPreference -DisableRealtimeMonitoring $true -DisableBehaviorMonitoring $true

# Or use the registry
Set-ItemProperty -Path "HKLM:\SOFTWARE\Policies\Microsoft\Windows Defender\Real-Time Protection" -Name "DisableRealtimeMonitoring" -Value 1

These commands are legitimate PowerShell cmdlets. They're not exploits or vulnerabilities. They're documented Windows features. An attacker (or malicious code) can use them to disable your primary defense layer, and traditional antivirus won't flag it because:

• It's legitimate PowerShell using official Microsoft cmdlets
• No signature matches because the commands themselves aren't malicious
• Behavioral detection is limited in traditional antivirus
• It requires admin rights, but if code is running with those rights, it can disable Defender

This is a perfect example of why signature-based security isn't enough. The action (disabling Defender) is malicious in context, but the method (using legitimate PowerShell cmdlets) is not. Traditional antivirus sees legitimate code, not malicious behavior.

Real-World Attack Scenarios

Scenario 1: Compromised Dependency

You ask Cursor to generate code that processes CSV files. The AI generates code that uses a library you've never heard of. You install it and run the code. The library's installation script includes PowerShell commands that disable Windows Defender, then downloads and executes malware. Traditional antivirus might catch the final payload, but it won't catch the Defender disable step because it's using legitimate Windows commands.

Scenario 2: Obfuscated Code

The AI generates code that looks like it's doing one thing, but contains obfuscated PowerShell that disables security controls before performing its actual function. The obfuscation might be minimal, just enough to make the malicious intent non-obvious during a quick review. When you run it, Defender gets disabled, then the real attack begins.

Scenario 3: AI Training Data Pollution

AI models are trained on code from the internet, including code from repositories that might contain malicious patterns. The AI might generate code that includes dangerous patterns it learned from training data, patterns that work but aren't secure. When you execute that code, you're running something that looks legitimate but has security issues.

Why Traditional Antivirus Falls Short

Traditional antivirus (including Windows Defender) works primarily through:

• Signature detection: Matching known malware patterns
• Heuristics: Looking for suspicious code patterns
• File scanning: Checking files before execution
• Basic behavioral analysis: Flagging known suspicious actions

These methods work well against known threats and obvious malware. But they miss:

• Legitimate tools used maliciously (like PowerShell to disable Defender)
• Living-off-the-land techniques that use built-in Windows features
• Context-dependent threats where the action is malicious in context but the method is legitimate
• Multi-stage attacks where each step alone looks harmless
• Fileless attacks that exist only in memory

When PowerShell disables Windows Defender using official cmdlets, antivirus sees legitimate PowerShell executing legitimate commands. It doesn't see the malicious intent behind it.

What EDR Does Differently

EDR (Endpoint Detection and Response) takes a different approach. Instead of just looking at files and signatures, EDR monitors system behavior and process relationships in real-time. Here's how it helps:

1. Behavioral Monitoring

EDR watches what processes actually do, not just what they are. When PowerShell disables Windows Defender, EDR sees the behavior: a process is attempting to disable security controls. It flags this as suspicious regardless of whether the commands themselves are legitimate.

2. Process Correlation

EDR tracks relationships between processes. If AI-generated code spawns PowerShell, which then disables Defender, EDR sees the connection. It can alert on suspicious process chains even when each individual step looks benign.

3. Context Awareness

EDR understands context. Running PowerShell to disable Defender after executing AI-generated code is suspicious. Running PowerShell for legitimate system administration is not. EDR uses machine learning and behavioral baselines to distinguish between normal and suspicious activity.

4. Real-Time Response

EDR can respond to threats in real-time, not just detect them. It can quarantine processes, roll back changes, or alert security teams immediately when suspicious behavior is detected.

5. Detection of Living-Off-the-Land Attacks

EDR is specifically designed to catch attacks that use legitimate tools maliciously, exactly the scenario where PowerShell disables Defender. It looks at what's happening, not just what tools are being used.

Example: How EDR Would Catch the Defender Disable

Here's what happens when malicious code tries to disable Defender:

Traditional Antivirus:

• Sees PowerShell executing
• Checks PowerShell signature: legitimate
• Checks cmdlet signatures: legitimate
• No threat detected
• Defender gets disabled

EDR:

• Sees PowerShell executing
• Monitors what PowerShell is doing
• Detects attempt to disable security controls
• Correlates with recent process execution (AI-generated code)
• Flags as suspicious behavior
• Alerts security team or blocks the action
• Defender stays enabled

Best Practices for AI-Assisted Coding

While EDR provides essential protection, you should also follow these practices when using AI coding assistants:

1. Review Generated Code

Always review AI-generated code before executing it, especially scripts that involve system operations, file access, or network requests. Look for:

• Unexpected imports or dependencies
• PowerShell or shell script execution
• File system operations outside expected scope
• Network requests to unexpected destinations
• Registry modifications or system configuration changes

2. Run in Isolated Environments

When testing AI-generated code, run it in isolated environments like virtual machines, containers, or sandboxed development environments. This limits the damage if something goes wrong.

3. Use Least Privilege

Don't run AI-generated code with administrator privileges unless absolutely necessary. Most code doesn't need elevated permissions, and limiting privileges reduces the attack surface.

4. Verify Dependencies

Before installing dependencies suggested by AI, verify they're legitimate and from trusted sources. Check package repositories, review package maintainers, and look for security advisories.

5. Implement EDR

Use EDR on development machines, not just production systems. Development environments are often less locked down and more vulnerable, making them attractive targets.

6. Use a Separate Partition and Maintain Backups

One of the most practical protections when using AI coding assistants is to create a separate partition on your computer that the system has full access to, and keep regular backups of it. This is especially important because AI-generated code has a track record of going rogue and deleting files, which has happened quite a bit in practice.

Here's why this approach works:

• Isolation: By keeping your AI coding work on a separate partition, you limit the damage if something goes wrong. If AI-generated code deletes files, it's limited to that partition (assuming you set proper permissions).
• Easy recovery: If your work partition gets corrupted or files get deleted, you can restore from backup without affecting your main system partition or other work.
• Full system access: The partition still has full system access for legitimate development work, so you're not limiting functionality, just containing potential damage.
• Quick restoration: Regular backups mean you can quickly restore to a known good state if AI-generated code causes problems.

To set this up:

1. Create a separate partition (or use a separate drive) for your AI coding projects
2. Set up automated backups of this partition (daily or more frequently, depending on your work)
3. Keep your main system partition and other important files separate from your AI coding workspace
4. Test your backup and restore process regularly to ensure it works

This won't prevent all problems, but it significantly reduces the risk. If AI-generated code deletes your files, you can restore from backup. If it corrupts data, you can roll back. This is a practical, low-tech solution that complements EDR's advanced threat detection.

The combination of good backups and EDR is key when it comes to vibe coding safely with Cursor. EDR catches threats in real-time and prevents attacks, while backups give you a safety net if something still goes wrong. Both are essential when working with AI-generated code that has the potential to cause significant damage.

Why This Matters for Businesses

If your developers are using AI coding assistants (and they probably are), you need EDR. Here's why:

• Increased attack surface: AI-generated code can introduce new vulnerabilities
• Faster attack propagation: If malicious code gets into your environment, it can spread quickly
• Blind spots in traditional security: Signature-based tools miss sophisticated attacks
• Compliance requirements: Many frameworks require advanced threat detection
• Protection from insiders: Even unintentional mistakes can create security issues

EDR isn't just for large enterprises. Small and medium businesses are increasingly targeted, and AI-assisted development makes the threat landscape more complex. EDR provides the visibility and protection you need to catch threats that traditional tools miss.

The Bottom Line

AI-assisted coding is powerful and productive, but it introduces new security risks. When you use tools like Cursor and execute AI-generated code with "run all," you're potentially running code you haven't fully reviewed, code that could use legitimate Windows features (like PowerShell) to perform malicious actions (like disabling Defender).

Traditional antivirus won't catch these threats because they use legitimate tools. Windows Defender can be disabled with a simple PowerShell command, and it's not a vulnerability. It's a feature. That's why you need EDR to monitor behavior, detect suspicious activity, and protect your systems from threats that slip past signature-based defenses.

Don't wait until you're compromised. Implement EDR now, especially if your team is using AI coding assistants. The threats are real, and traditional security tools aren't enough. And don't forget the basics: use a separate partition for AI coding work, maintain regular backups, and combine these practical protections with EDR for the best defense.

Good backups and EDR are both key when it comes to vibe coding safely with Cursor. EDR provides real-time threat detection and prevention, while backups ensure you can recover quickly if AI-generated code goes rogue and deletes files. Together, they provide comprehensive protection against both intentional attacks and accidental damage from AI-generated code.