CVE-2026-75055 in IntelliJ IDEA
Summary
by MITRE • 08/17/2026
In JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA before 2026.2.1 hadoop ResourceManager could read local files via XXE
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Analysis
by VulDB Data Team • 08/17/2026
The vulnerability identified in versions of JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA prior to version 2026.2.1 involves a critical XML External Entity (XXE) injection flaw within the Hadoop ResourceManager integration component. This security issue arises from the improper configuration of the XML parser used when processing data exchanged with or generated by the Hadoop ResourceManager interface. Specifically, the application fails to disable external entity resolution and parameter entity expansion during the parsing of untrusted XML input. In a typical XXE scenario, an attacker who can influence the structure of the XML document processed by this component can inject malicious payloads that instruct the parser to retrieve resources from local file systems or internal network locations. This behavior violates fundamental security principles regarding the handling of external data sources and represents a significant risk in environments where IntelliJ IDEA is used for developing or managing Hadoop-based big data applications.
From a technical perspective, the flaw stems directly from CWE-611, which classifies Improper Restriction of XML External Entity Reference. When the IDE processes configuration files, logs, or remote responses related to YARN (Yet Another Resource Negotiator) clusters, it utilizes an XML parser that retains default settings allowing for DTD processing and external entity inclusion. An attacker with the ability to supply crafted XML input—potentially through a compromised cluster node, a malicious plugin interaction, or a man-in-the-middle attack on unencrypted management traffic—can exploit this misconfiguration. By defining a custom Document Type Definition (DTD) that references local files using protocols such as file://, the parser will attempt to resolve these entities and include their contents in the parsed output. This mechanism allows for arbitrary file read operations from the host machine where IntelliJ IDEA is executing, potentially exposing sensitive configuration keys, private SSH credentials, source code snippets stored locally, or other proprietary data residing on the disk.
The operational impact of this vulnerability extends beyond simple information disclosure. While the primary consequence is unauthorized access to local files, the ability to process external entities can also facilitate Server-Side Request Forgery (SSRF) attacks if the parser supports protocols like http:// or ftp://. This could allow an attacker to probe internal network services that are not directly accessible from the internet, potentially leading to further compromise of the organization's infrastructure. Furthermore, in some XML processing implementations, complex entity expansions can lead to resource exhaustion, resulting in a Denial of Service condition by consuming excessive CPU and memory resources during parsing. For development teams relying on IntelliJ IDEA for Hadoop cluster management, this vulnerability undermines trust in the toolchain and poses a direct threat to data integrity and confidentiality within the local development environment.
Mitigation strategies must focus on immediate patching and defensive coding practices. The primary remediation is to upgrade JetBrains IntelliJ IDEA to version 2026.2.1 or later, where the XML parser has been hardened to disable external entity resolution by default for untrusted input sources. For organizations unable to immediately update their IDEs due to compatibility constraints with specific plugins or workflows, temporary mitigations include restricting network access from the development machine to internal Hadoop management interfaces and ensuring that any data exchanged is validated against strict schemas before parsing. Developers should also be aware of CWE-20, Improper Input Validation, as a broader category for this class of issues; implementing robust input validation layers at the application boundary can prevent malicious XML structures from reaching vulnerable parsers. Additionally, adher to OWASP guidelines for secure coding practices regarding XML processing is recommended to ensure that future integrations do not reintroduce similar weaknesses.
This vulnerability aligns with MITRE ATT&CK technique T1083, File and Directory Discovery, as the exploitation allows an adversary to enumerate and read local files on the target system. It also relates to T1552, Unsecured Credentials, if sensitive configuration files are accessed. The incident underscores the importance of treating all XML input sources with suspicion, regardless of their perceived trust level within a development environment. Security teams should audit existing integrations for similar XXE patterns and enforce strict security configurations in third-party libraries used by IDE plugins. Regular vulnerability scanning and code reviews focusing on XML parsing logic are essential to maintaining a secure software development lifecycle, particularly when dealing with complex big data ecosystems like Hadoop where external interactions are frequent and varied.