CVE-2026-64811 in IntelliJ IDEA
Summary
by MITRE • 07/23/2026
In JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.2 arbitrary code execution was possible before granting project trust via development container configuration
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 07/23/2026
This vulnerability in JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA versions prior to 2026.2 represents a critical security flaw that allows remote arbitrary code execution during the initial project setup phase through development container configurations. The technical root cause stems from insufficient validation of container configuration files, particularly those related to devcontainer.json and associated Docker setup components. Attackers can exploit this by crafting malicious container configuration files that execute arbitrary commands during the project initialization process before the user has explicitly granted trust to the project. This vulnerability falls under CWE-94 which specifically addresses "Improper Control of Generation of Code" and aligns with ATT&CK technique T1059.007 for "Command and Scripting Interpreter: PowerShell" and T1203 for "Exploitation for Client Execution." The flaw occurs because IntelliJ IDEA automatically processes container configuration files without proper sandboxing or validation mechanisms, allowing malicious code embedded in these files to execute with the privileges of the running IDE process. This creates a significant attack surface since development containers often contain sensitive information and may have access to local resources or network connectivity. The vulnerability is particularly dangerous in enterprise environments where developers frequently work with untrusted project repositories or when automated build systems pull configuration files from external sources. During the project loading phase, the IDE parses container definitions without adequate input sanitization, enabling command injection attacks through specially crafted configuration parameters that get executed as part of the container setup process. The impact extends beyond simple code execution to potentially allow attackers to access local development environments, exfiltrate sensitive data, or establish persistent backdoors within the development infrastructure. Organizations should immediately update to IntelliJ IDEA 2026.2 or later versions where proper input validation and trust management mechanisms have been implemented. Additionally, security teams should consider implementing network segmentation policies that limit access to development containers and ensure that container configuration files are properly vetted before being used in production or development environments. The vulnerability demonstrates the importance of secure coding practices around configuration file handling and the need for robust privilege separation between user interfaces and underlying system operations.