CVE-2019-9873 in IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate
Summary
by MITRE
In several versions of JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate, creating Task Servers configurations leads to saving a cleartext unencrypted record of the server credentials in the IDE configuration files. 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 identified as CVE-2019-9873 represents a critical security flaw in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate development environment that directly impacts credential storage practices within integrated development environments. This issue specifically affects the Task Servers configuration functionality where users can establish connections to external task management servers such as Jira, YouTrack, or other compatible systems. The flaw stems from the application's failure to implement proper encryption mechanisms when storing authentication credentials within its configuration files, creating a persistent security risk that extends beyond the immediate operational environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the storage of plaintext credentials in configuration files that are accessible to any user with read permissions on the system. When users configure Task Servers within IntelliJ IDEA, the application saves both username and password information in unencrypted format within its settings directory, typically located in user-specific configuration folders. This design flaw creates a situation where sensitive authentication data becomes permanently accessible to any process or user that can read these configuration files, effectively providing a credential repository that can be exploited by malicious actors with system access. The vulnerability manifests as a direct violation of secure credential handling principles and represents a classic example of insecure data storage practices that fall under CWE-312, which specifically addresses the exposure of sensitive information through improper data handling.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple credential exposure to encompass broader security implications for development environments and organizational security postures. Development teams utilizing IntelliJ IDEA Ultimate may unknowingly store production credentials, access tokens, or other sensitive authentication information in a format that provides persistent access to attackers who gain system-level privileges. This vulnerability particularly affects organizations that rely on integrated development environments for enterprise-level development work, where the compromise of a single developer's machine could potentially expose access to multiple systems, including version control repositories, continuous integration servers, and production environments. The risk is amplified when considering that developers often work with multiple task management systems and may have access to sensitive corporate data through these connections.
Organizations and development teams should immediately implement mitigations to address this vulnerability through both immediate remediation and long-term security policy enforcement. The primary mitigation involves upgrading to the fixed versions of IntelliJ IDEA as specified in the advisory, which include 2019.1, 2018.3.5, 2018.2.8, and 2018.1.8. Beyond simple version upgrades, administrators should conduct comprehensive audits of existing configuration files to identify and remove any exposed credentials, implementing mandatory credential rotation for all affected systems. The remediation process should also include establishing secure credential management practices that align with industry standards such as those outlined in the NIST Cybersecurity Framework and the OWASP Secure Coding Practices. Additionally, security teams should implement monitoring solutions to detect unauthorized access to configuration files and establish automated scanning processes to identify similar vulnerabilities in other development tools and integrated environments. This vulnerability demonstrates the critical importance of secure credential handling in development environments and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1555.003, which addresses credentials from password storage devices, emphasizing the need for comprehensive credential security measures throughout the software development lifecycle.