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Symlink flaw in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA allows arbitrary file writes

Priority LOW 30CWE-59Published · Updated

Key facts

Attack vector
Local
Privileges required
None
User interaction
Required
Attack complexity
Low
Impact type
—
Confidentiality · integrity · availability
None · High · High
Fix status
Fixed

Attack profile from CVSS 3.1 · CNA. Fix status from CNA.

Summary

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.3 is affected. The plugin archive extraction code follows symbolic links without checking where they point (CWE-59), so files can be written outside the intended directory. A local attacker without privileges can cause arbitrary file writes when user interaction occurs, impacting 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 arbitrary file write was possible via symlinks when extracting plugin archives

Why it matters now

Exploitation None reported CISA SSVC · not in CISA KEV
EPSS 0.00169 6th percentileScored 2026-11-07
Fix Fixed IntelliJ IDEA (JetBrains): 2026.3

SSVC decision points

CISA ADP · SSVC 2.0.3

Exploitation
None
Automatable
No
Technical impact
Partial

The decision (Track, Attend, Act) also depends on your mission and well-being impact; see CISA's SSVC guide.

Affected products

VendorProductAffected versionsFixed inStatusSource
JetBrainsIntelliJ IDEAbefore 2026.32026.3Patch availableCNA
  • IntelliJ IDEA VendorJetBrains Affected before 2026.3 Fixed in 2026.3 Patch available CNA

CPE names Threatist (inferred) · 1

Inferred from how NVD named this product before; not given by a source.

CPEVersionsRoleVendor
cpe:2.3:a:jetbrains:intellij_idea:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:*——JetBrains
  • cpe:2.3:a:jetbrains:intellij_idea:*:*:*:*:*:*:*:* Versions — — ·JetBrains

Remediation

JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA 2026.3 fixes this flaw, so upgrade from earlier versions to 2026.3.

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

  1. 2026-11-06 Threatist record created from CVE-2026-123842
  2. 2026-11-06 CISA SSVC decision points changed
  3. 2026-11-06 Priority changed: MEDIUM → LOW
  4. 2026-11-06 Alias added: GHSA-m67g-5rw4-gf98

References

  • 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
See all 787 →

Sources