CVE-2019-9872 in IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate
Summary
by MITRE
In several versions of JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, creating run configurations for cloud application servers leads to saving a cleartext unencrypted record of the server credentials in the IDE configuration files. If the Settings Repository plugin was then used and configured to synchronize IDE settings using a public repository, these credentials were published to this repository. The issue has been fixed in the following versions: 2019.1, 2018.3.5, 2018.2.8, and 2018.1.8.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/01/2020
The vulnerability CVE-2019-9872 represents a critical security flaw in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate that exposes sensitive authentication credentials through improper configuration management. This issue specifically affects the handling of cloud application server run configurations where user credentials are stored in plaintext within IDE configuration files. The flaw stems from the application's failure to properly encrypt or obfuscate authentication information during the configuration process, creating a persistent security risk that extends beyond the local development environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper storage of cleartext credentials in configuration files that are subsequently synchronized through the Settings Repository plugin. When users create run configurations for cloud servers, the IDE automatically saves both the server connection details and authentication credentials in unencrypted format within the project or user settings directory. This design flaw creates a direct pathway for credential exposure when developers configure the Settings Repository plugin to synchronize their IDE configurations with external repositories, particularly public ones commonly used for sharing development environments and preferences.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends far beyond the immediate local environment, creating a significant risk for development teams that rely on configuration synchronization. When the Settings Repository plugin is configured to use public repositories such as GitHub or GitLab, the plaintext credentials stored in the IDE configuration files become publicly accessible to anyone with read access to these repositories. This scenario directly violates security best practices and creates a persistent threat vector that can be exploited by malicious actors who gain access to these repositories. The vulnerability affects multiple versions of IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, with the issue being resolved in specific patch releases that introduced proper credential encryption mechanisms.
This vulnerability aligns with CWE-312 (Cleartext Storage of Sensitive Information) and represents a classic example of insecure credential handling in development environments. The ATT&CK framework categorizes this as a credential access technique where adversaries can harvest credentials from configuration files, particularly when these files are stored in version control systems or shared repositories. The flaw demonstrates how seemingly benign IDE functionality can create significant security risks when proper encryption and access control mechanisms are not implemented. Organizations using IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate should immediately update to the patched versions and review their configuration synchronization practices to prevent credential exposure.
The remediation approach for this vulnerability requires immediate application of the specified patches for versions 2019.1, 2018.3.5, 2018.2.8, and 2018.1.8, along with comprehensive review of existing configuration repositories to ensure no credentials have been exposed. Security teams should implement monitoring for unauthorized access to shared repositories and establish policies that prohibit the synchronization of sensitive configuration data. Additionally, developers should be trained on the proper handling of credentials in development environments and the importance of using secure credential storage mechanisms rather than relying on plaintext configuration files.