Summary

OpenSSF Scorecard reports 4 Pinned-Dependencies alerts for npm install -g @vscode/vsce@3.7.1 commands across 3 extension workflow files. Version pinning alone does not satisfy the Scorecard check — cryptographic hash pinning is required.

This is a recurrence of #291 (closed 2026-01-27) which proposed the same fix. The alerts persist on main, indicating the fix was either not fully applied or was overridden.

Alert Details

Root Cause

npm install -g bypasses lockfile integrity checks. Even with a version pin (@3.7.1), the package is fetched at install time without a cryptographic hash comparison. OpenSSF Scorecard requires either:

• A lockfile-backed install (npm ci) with integrity hashes, or
• An explicit SHA-256 verification step

Proposed Fix

Convert global npm install -g to a lockfile-backed local install:

1. Add @vscode/vsce as a devDependency to extension/package.json
2. Commit extension/package-lock.json with integrity hashes
3. Replace all npm install -g @vscode/vsce@3.7.1 steps with:

   - run: cd extension && npm ci
   - run: npx vsce 
     working-directory: extension

This eliminates the global install and leverages npm's built-in integrity verification via the lockfile.

Alternative

If the local devDependency approach creates issues with workflow structure, use scripts/security/tool-checksums.json (existing pattern in the repo) to verify a downloaded tarball hash before installing.

Acceptance Criteria

• No global npm install -g @vscode/vsce commands remain in any workflow
• extension/package-lock.json contains integrity hashes for vsce
• extension-package.yml workflow passes CI (extension packages successfully)
• extension-publish.yml workflow passes CI (extension publishes successfully)
• extension-publish-prerelease.yml workflow passes CI (both jobs)
• OpenSSF Scorecard alerts Add repository foundation and documentation files #2, Add development tools configuration files #3, Development tools configuration files missing #4, Add development tools configuration files #5 resolve on next scan

References

• Alerts: https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/security/code-scanning/2 through https://github.com/microsoft/hve-core/security/code-scanning/5
• Predecessor: [Issue]: Fix OpenSSF Scorecard Pinned-Dependencies warnings for npm commands #291 (closed, same recommendation, alerts persist)
• Pattern reference: scripts/security/tool-checksums.json for hash verification

How to Build This

This is a security fix implementation task using the task-implementor workflow.

Workflow: /task-research → /task-plan → /task-implement → /task-review

Phase 1: Research

Source Material

• This issue body
• #file:.github/workflows/extension-package.yml (line 58: unpinned vsce install)
• #file:.github/workflows/extension-publish.yml (line 115: unpinned vsce install)
• #file:.github/workflows/extension-publish-prerelease.yml (lines 72, 130: unpinned vsce install)
• #file:extension/templates/package.template.json (template-based packaging)
• #file:scripts/security/tool-checksums.json (hash verification pattern)
• #file:scripts/extension/prepare-extension.ps1 (extension build process)

Steps

1. Type /clear to start a fresh context.
2. Attach or open the files listed above.
3. Copy and run this prompt:

/task-research topic="resolving vsce npm pinned-dependencies alerts"

Research how to resolve OpenSSF Scorecard Pinned-Dependencies alerts for npm install -g
@vscode/vsce commands in extension workflows. Investigate:

1. How the extension packaging workflow works (template-based, not standard package.json)
2. Whether adding extension/package.json and extension/package-lock.json is compatible
   with the template-based build system
3. The alternative approach using scripts/security/tool-checksums.json for hash verification
4. How npm ci handles devDependencies vs npm install -g for the vsce tool
5. Whether npx vsce can replace direct vsce CLI invocation in workflow steps
6. Impact on all three extension workflow files (package, publish, publish-prerelease)
7. The existing prepare-extension.ps1 script and how it interacts with packaging

Output: Research document at .copilot-tracking/research/{{YYYY-MM-DD}}-vsce-pinning-research.md

Phase 2: Plan

Source Material

• Research document from Phase 1

Steps

1. Type /clear to start a fresh context.
2. Open the research document from Phase 1.
3. Copy and run this prompt:

/task-plan

Create an implementation plan for resolving the vsce Pinned-Dependencies alerts.
The plan should address the template-based packaging system, select between the
devDependency approach and the tool-checksums approach, and specify changes to
all three extension workflow files.

Output: Plan at .copilot-tracking/plans/ and details at .copilot-tracking/details/

Phase 3: Implement

Source Material

• Plan from Phase 2

Steps

1. Type /clear to start a fresh context.
2. Open the plan document from Phase 2.
3. Copy and run this prompt:

/task-implement

Implement the vsce pinning fix across all three extension workflow files following
the plan. Replace npm install -g commands with the selected approach (lockfile-backed
install or hash-verified download).

Output: Modified workflow files and any new files, changes log at .copilot-tracking/changes/

Phase 4: Review

Source Material

• Plan from Phase 2
• Changes log from Phase 3

Steps

1. Type /clear to start a fresh context.
2. Open the plan and changes log.
3. Copy and run this prompt:

/task-review

Review the vsce pinning implementation. Run these validation commands:
- npm run lint:yaml (validate all three extension workflow files)
Verify that no npm install -g @vscode/vsce commands remain, that the replacement
approach provides cryptographic hash verification, and that extension packaging
still works correctly in all three workflow contexts.

Output: Review log at .copilot-tracking/reviews/

After Review

• Pass: All criteria met. Create a PR referencing this issue.
• Iterate: Review found issues. Run /clear, return to Phase 3 with the review feedback.
• Escalate: Fundamental design issue discovered. Run /clear, return to Phase 1 to research the gap.

Authoring Standards

• Workflow changes follow .github/instructions/hve-core/workflows.instructions.md
• Security scripts follow patterns from scripts/security/
• All action and tool references use SHA pinning or lockfile-backed integrity verification

Success Criteria

• No global npm install -g @vscode/vsce commands remain in any workflow
• Replacement approach provides cryptographic hash verification
• extension-package.yml workflow still packages the extension correctly
• extension-publish.yml workflow still publishes correctly
• extension-publish-prerelease.yml workflow still works for both jobs
• npm run lint:yaml passes for all modified workflow files