CVE-2019-10103 in IntelliJ IDEA
Summary
by MITRE
JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA projects created using the Kotlin (JS Client/JVM Server) IDE Template were resolving Gradle artifacts using an http connection, potentially allowing an MITM attack. This issue, which was fixed in Kotlin plugin version 1.3.30, is similar to CVE-2019-10101.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 06/30/2020
The vulnerability described in CVE-2019-10103 represents a critical security flaw in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA's handling of Gradle artifact resolution within Kotlin projects. This issue specifically affected projects created using the Kotlin IDE Template that combined JavaScript Client with JVM Server components. The fundamental problem arose from the IDE's default configuration that utilized unencrypted http connections for resolving Gradle dependencies instead of secure https protocols. This configuration created a significant attack surface that could be exploited by malicious actors positioned within the network traffic path between the development environment and remote repositories.
The technical flaw stems from improper network protocol selection during dependency resolution processes, where the Kotlin plugin in IntelliJ IDEA was configured to fetch artifacts over http rather than https. This design decision exposed developers to man-in-the-middle attacks where attackers could intercept, modify, or redirect network traffic containing sensitive dependency information. The vulnerability aligns with CWE-319, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper use of network protocols. When attackers successfully exploited this weakness, they could potentially inject malicious code into the dependency chain, compromising the integrity of the entire development environment and resulting applications.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential theft or data interception. Developers working with Kotlin projects using the affected template could unknowingly introduce compromised dependencies into their codebase, potentially affecting multiple downstream applications. The attack vector could be particularly dangerous in corporate environments where development teams rely on internal repositories or where network traffic passes through unsecured public networks during remote development sessions. The vulnerability's similarity to CVE-2019-10101 indicates a broader pattern of insecure network protocol implementation within the Kotlin plugin ecosystem, suggesting that similar weaknesses might exist in other related components. This issue demonstrates the critical importance of secure dependency management practices in modern development environments where automated tooling can inadvertently create security risks through default configurations.
Mitigation strategies for this vulnerability require immediate action from affected users, including updating to Kotlin plugin version 1.3.30 or later, which corrected the problematic http connection behavior. Organizations should implement automated security scanning tools to identify and remediate similar insecure configurations across their development environments. The fix implemented by JetBrains demonstrates proper security hardening practices by enforcing encrypted connections for all dependency resolution activities. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring to detect unauthorized http traffic patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability serves as a reminder of the ATT&CK framework's relevance in development security contexts, particularly the technique of credential access through network protocol manipulation, where attackers can leverage insecure connections to gain unauthorized access to development resources and potentially compromise the entire software supply chain.