External risk intelligence

IntelliJ IDEA Path Traversal Allows Code Execution

CVE advisorySeverity: CRITICAL (CVSS 9.8)

CVE-2026-59792

IntelliJ IDEA is a local integrated development environment (IDE) installed on developer workstations. It is not designed to be exposed to the public internet as a service, and its typical deployment pattern is restricted to local user environments.

Path Traversal

Jetbrains Intellij Idea

before 2026.1.4

Halo Surface Signal: 1 out of 5 — much less likely to be public-facing.

External exposure likelihood

Horizon Alert

Summary of the vulnerability and why it matters

A vulnerability has been identified in IntelliJ IDEA, a widely used software development tool. This issue could allow for unauthorized code execution through a specific type of security flaw related to how project workspaces are handled. While the technology itself is used by developers, understanding its potential impact is important for assessing organizational risk.

Flaw allows code execution via project workspace handling.
It matters because it affects a core developer tool.
Confirm relevance and exposure to development environments.

Attack Path

How an attacker could exploit the issue

An attacker could exploit this vulnerability by tricking a user into opening a specially crafted project file. This would allow the attacker to gain code execution on the user's machine, potentially leading to broader compromise.

Requires user interaction to open a project.
Vulnerable project workspace ID handling.
Allows for code execution on the user's machine.

Live Threat

Current exploitation, exposure, and threat context

This vulnerability could allow an attacker to execute code on a user's system by tricking them into opening a specially crafted project file. This could affect the integrity and confidentiality of local project data and potentially the developer's workstation when supported by the advisory.

Project workspace data.
Via crafted project file opening.
Code execution on the developer workstation.

Operational Fix

Recommended remediation, mitigation, and detection steps

The criticality of this vulnerability requires a coordinated response. Application owners and platform teams are likely responsible for managing IntelliJ IDEA instances. The initial practical step involves identifying all deployment locations, assessing their reachability and business criticality, and then confirming the accountable owner for each instance to prioritize remediation efforts.

Application owners should own the issue.
Verify all IntelliJ IDEA instances and their exposure.
Plan remediation based on risk and criticality.

Supplementary metadata

CVSS vector

Validate whether this threat affects your internet-facing exposure.

Halo Threat Intelligence helps prioritize remediation with Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context. Start exposure validation with a free external attack surface trial.

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Frequently asked questions

What is IntelliJ IDEA?

IntelliJ IDEA is a widely used Integrated Development Environment (IDE) built by JetBrains. It serves as a comprehensive workspace where software developers write, debug, and manage the source code for their applications. Because it integrates deeply with project files and build configurations, it is a primary tool installed directly on developer workstations rather than on servers.

What does CVE-2026-59792 mean for security?

This vulnerability is classified as a Path Traversal issue (CWE-23). In plain English, it means the software fails to properly sanitize file paths when processing project workspace identifiers. Because of this flaw, an attacker can manipulate file locations, potentially bypassing security restrictions to execute unauthorized code on the machine running the IDE.

How is this vulnerability triggered?

An attacker triggers this flaw by tricking a user into opening a maliciously crafted project file. The vulnerability relies on this specific user interaction to execute. Simply having the software installed or browsing standard project files without malicious content does not trigger the issue; the IDE must be instructed to open a file specifically designed to exploit the path handling weakness.

Is my installation of IntelliJ IDEA at risk?

Halo Surface Signal indicates that this is very unlikely for most users. IntelliJ IDEA is designed as a local tool for developer workstations, not as a service exposed to the public internet. Therefore, the risk is typically confined to the specific developer who opens the malicious file, rather than being a remote service threat that can be automatically scanned from the internet.

How should I respond to this threat?

Start by identifying all instances of IntelliJ IDEA within your environment. Confirm which versions are currently in use, as those before 2026.1.4 and 2026.2 are affected. Once you have a clear inventory, prioritize updates for these installations. Your goal is to move to a patched version to ensure project workspace identifiers are handled safely and eliminate the underlying path traversal risk.

References

www.jetbrains.com/privacy-security/issues-fixed/

Written by Nicholas Merritt

Nicholas Merritt is VP of Security Solutions at Halo Security. With more than 25 years across application security, vulnerability prioritization, and offensive security, he helps teams translate threat data into practical exposure validation and remediation focus. He authors Halo Threat Intelligence CVE advisories using Halo Surface Signal and H/A/L/O context to prioritize internet-facing risk.