CVE-2021-29263 in IntelliJ IDEA
Summary
by MITRE • 05/11/2021
In JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA 2020.3.3, local code execution was possible because of insufficient checks when getting the project from VCS.
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 05/15/2021
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2021-29263 represents a critical local code execution flaw in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA version 2020.3.3 that stems from inadequate validation mechanisms during version control system operations. This issue specifically manifests when the integrated development environment attempts to retrieve project data from version control systems, creating a pathway for malicious actors to execute arbitrary code on the victim's machine. The vulnerability resides in the software's insufficient input validation and access control measures when processing project metadata obtained through version control operations.
From a technical perspective, the flaw occurs within the project initialization and version control integration components of IntelliJ IDEA where the application fails to properly validate or sanitize data received from external version control repositories. This insufficient validation creates a condition where maliciously crafted project files or repository metadata can trigger unintended code execution paths within the IDE's runtime environment. The vulnerability is particularly concerning because it leverages the legitimate functionality of version control integration to bypass normal security boundaries, making it difficult to detect through traditional security monitoring approaches. This type of vulnerability aligns with CWE-20, which describes improper input validation, and represents a classic example of how insecure deserialization or improper access control can lead to remote code execution in development environments.
The operational impact of CVE-2021-29263 extends beyond simple local privilege escalation as it enables attackers to execute arbitrary code with the privileges of the user running IntelliJ IDEA. This vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where developers frequently work with external repositories or collaborate on projects that may contain malicious code. Attackers can exploit this vulnerability by creating specially crafted version control repositories or by compromising existing repositories that are subsequently accessed by developers using the affected IDE version. The attack vector typically involves tricking users into opening or synchronizing with malicious repositories, which then triggers the vulnerable code path during project loading or update operations. This vulnerability can be classified under ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for execution through scripting and T1068 for local privilege escalation, making it a significant threat in the context of software development environments.
Organizations and individual developers should immediately update to JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA version 2021.1 or later, which contains the necessary patches to address this vulnerability. System administrators should also implement network segmentation and access controls to limit exposure of development environments to untrusted repositories. Additionally, developers should be trained to exercise caution when opening projects from untrusted sources and should verify repository integrity before synchronizing with version control systems. Security monitoring should include detection of unusual project loading activities or access patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of maintaining current software versions and the critical nature of proper input validation in development tools that handle external data inputs. Organizations should also consider implementing automated security scanning of development environments and regular security assessments to identify similar vulnerabilities in other development tools and integrated environments.