Missing authentication in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA lets attackers execute code
Key facts
- Attack vector
- Local
- Privileges required
- Low
- User interaction
- Required
- Attack complexity
- High
- Impact type
- Security bypass
- Confidentiality · integrity · availability
- High · High · High
- Fix status
- Fixed
Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA. Impact type from CWE-306.
Summary
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.3 has a missing authentication flaw (CWE-306) in its JDBC worker RMI endpoint, which accepts connections without authentication. A local attacker with low privileges can execute code, and user interaction is required. Successful exploitation can fully compromise confidentiality, integrity and availability.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
Description from the CNA
In JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.3 code execution was possible via the unauthenticated JDBC worker RMI endpoint
Why it matters now
SSVC decision points
CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3
- Exploitation
- None
- Automatable
- No
- Technical impact
- Total
The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.
Affected products
Remediation
Update JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA to version 2026.3 or later.
Written with Claude Haiku 5.5 from the sources below · 2026-11-06
- Fix · CNA IntelliJ IDEA (JetBrains) Fixed in 2026.3
Fixed in the same release
Records fixed by the same vendor advisory or release, as the CNA lists them.
- Release ·
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA 2026.3
21 records Highest priority Priority LOW 21 LOW
Other records, highest priority first
- TI-2026-86000 Code execution via symlinks in IntelliJ IDEA settings archive importPriority LOW 35
- TI-2026-85997 Code execution in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Safe Mode via UI DesignerPriority LOW 35
- TI-2026-85846 Path traversal in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA via Dev Container archivesPriority LOW 35
Timeline
- 2026-11-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-123278
- 2026-11-06 Alias added: GHSA-cwq7-7vmm-78gg
- 2026-11-06 CISA SSVC decision points changed
- 2026-11-06 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
- 2026-11-07 CISA SSVC decision points changed
References
More JetBrains vulnerabilities
- TI-2026-45031 Deserialization of untrusted data in JetBrains TeamCity KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-18053 In JetBrains TeamCity before 2023.11.4 authentication bypass allowing to perform admin actions was possible KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2023-22884 In JetBrains TeamCity before 2023.05.4 authentication bypass leading to RCE on TeamCity Server was possible KEVCVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-18054 In JetBrains TeamCity before 2023.11.4 path traversal allowing to perform limited admin actions was possible KEVCVSS 3.1HIGH 7.3
- TI-2024-15905 In JetBrains TeamCity before 2023.11.3 authentication bypass leading to RCE was possible CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.8
- TI-2024-24589 Insufficiently protected credentials in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA CVSS 3.1CRITICAL 9.3
Sources
- CVE-2026-123278 · CVE Program
- CVE-2026-123278 · NVD
- FIRST EPSS
- GHSA-cwq7-7vmm-78gg · GitHub Advisory Database · CC BY 4.0
This product uses the NVD API but is not endorsed or certified by the NVD. Sources and licences