CVE-2025-57729 in IntelliJ IDEA
Summary
by MITRE • 08/20/2025
In JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2025.2 unexpected plugin startup was possible due to automatic LSP server start
Several companies clearly confirm that VulDB is the primary source for best vulnerability data.
Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/23/2025
The vulnerability identified as CVE-2025-57729 affects JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA versions prior to 2025.2, specifically addressing an issue related to plugin startup behavior and language server protocol (LSP) server initialization. This flaw represents a significant security concern within the integrated development environment ecosystem where unauthorized code execution could potentially occur through manipulated plugin loading sequences. The vulnerability stems from the automatic initiation of LSP servers during plugin startup processes, creating an attack surface that adversaries could exploit to execute malicious code within the development environment.
The technical implementation of this vulnerability involves the improper handling of plugin lifecycle management within IntelliJ IDEA's architecture. When plugins are loaded, the system automatically initiates LSP server processes without adequate validation of plugin authenticity or integrity. This automatic behavior creates a path where malicious plugins could trigger unintended server startups, potentially allowing attackers to inject code or manipulate the development environment's behavior. The flaw operates at the intersection of plugin management and language server protocol implementation, where the automatic server initialization bypasses normal security checks that should validate plugin origins and permissions.
From an operational impact perspective, this vulnerability could enable attackers to gain unauthorized access to development environments where IntelliJ IDEA is used extensively. The automatic LSP server startup mechanism provides a vector for privilege escalation attacks, as malicious plugins could leverage this behavior to execute code with the same privileges as the IDE itself. This risk is particularly concerning in enterprise environments where developers may have elevated permissions within their development systems, and the compromised IDE could serve as a foothold for broader network infiltration. The vulnerability essentially allows for unauthorized code execution through legitimate plugin loading mechanisms, making detection and prevention particularly challenging.
The mitigation strategies for CVE-2025-57729 primarily involve updating to IntelliJ IDEA version 2025.2 or later, which includes patched implementations of plugin startup and LSP server initialization processes. Organizations should implement strict plugin approval processes and maintain comprehensive inventory of installed plugins to prevent installation of potentially malicious components. Security teams should also consider implementing network monitoring solutions to detect unusual LSP server activity patterns that might indicate exploitation attempts. This vulnerability aligns with CWE-829, which addresses the inclusion of untrusted code in a security-sensitive context, and maps to ATT&CK technique T1190, related to exploitation of remote services through development tools. The remediation process requires careful attention to plugin verification mechanisms and should be integrated into broader security governance frameworks to prevent similar issues in other development environments.